Deputy Casey slams report on student accommodation

AS Leaving Certificate students received their third level CAO offers last week, a Wicklow TD has slammed the lack of availability of affordable student accommodation.

Fianna Fáil’s Pat Casey TD has branded the Government report on student accommodation ‘ little more than a whitewash’.

‘It (the report) claims that progress is being made in providing student accommodation. This is despite the fact that an increasing number of students are unable to meet basic accommodation costs,’ he said.

Deputy Casey outlined that the joy of achieving exam success will for many, be marred by the search for accommodation.

‘For many that search will be fruitless and Wicklow students will be forced to commute placing extra strain on what should be an exciting new chapter in life. The reality is that much of the new student accommodation is being built privately and rented out at exorbitant rates. The average going rate for student accommodation is now €1,400. Such rents are not affordable for a person working, let alone a student who has a much reduced income,’ he said.

He outlined that students in many parts of the country are facing massive rent increases for the coming academic year.

‘The Government has rejected proposals put forward by Fianna Fáil to prevent unreasonable rental increases for students. We have put forward a Bill to extend Rent Pressure Zones to student accommodation. The Government should accept this proposal instead of clapping itself on the back for presiding over a situation where students are being forced out of accommodation due to exorbitant rent increases,’ he said.