Students being forced to defer courses due to lack of housing
THE National University of Ireland, Galway says 300 students have deferred their places this year, with 92 of those blaming it on the accommodation crisis.
This marks an 11% increase in the number of deferrals since last year, according to NUIG, with more students struggling to afford or find available housing.
Meanwhile, Trinity College Dublin (TCD) has seen a 20% increase in deferral requests from CAO Round One offers compared to 2021, with 10% saying accommodation is their reason for doing so.
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has warned that if deferral requests are rejected, college students could lose their place at university, if they cannot afford to stay.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, the USI’s vice president for academic affairs, Clodagh McGivern, said: ‘It’s absolutely ridiculous and it’s so unfair.
‘We’ve seen an additional 1,056 university places given out this year. They keep adding college spaces but they’re not building accommodation to actually meet the demand that is being created.’
She added: ‘Short-term measures such as online learning need to be taken to make sure students don’t have to forgo their education.’
The NUIG Students’ Union has organised an ‘accommodation protest’ for tomorrow, in Galway’s Eyre Square.
Union leaders will spend the night in tents to support students without somewhere to stay, and call for urgent action to be taken by the Government and Galway City Council.
Speaking to the Irish Daily Mail, NUIG Students’ Union president Sai Gujulla said: ‘It’s stressful for students. There is no supply [of housing] and the prices are really high.
‘That’s why deferral rates are so high this year.’
‘When international students are already being charged €18,000 to €19,000 for the year, they would expect accommodation. When they’re not given it they’re just leaving.
‘If you go on Daft.ie, there are only around six properties that are available, and at extortionate prices.’
Mr Gujulla added: ‘The cost of living is another big reason [for more deferrals]. Electricity prices are really high now, so even while living with housemates, it’s still not affordable [for students]. For basic stuff like groceries and daily essentials, the prices are crazy. It really is a lot for students.’
Míde Nic Fhionnlaoich, of the University College Dublin (UCD) Students’ Union, told the Mail: ‘We knew coming into the semester that this would be the worst year of the crisis so far, and it’s really frustrating to see students, who have applied themselves academically, forced to give up their places due to the failures of a Government that refuses to tackle this crisis head-on.
‘The number of students coming through the door seeking help from the student union has not decreased, even as we enter the third week of the academic year. I don’t see it dropping off any time soon.’
She added: ‘A significant proportion of them are being forced to drop out or defer their courses if they cannot find somewhere to live.’
A spokeswoman for the Irish Universities Association (IUA) said: ‘Early indications from preliminary data shows an increase in deferrals in some universities but the exact cause is unclear. In some cases accommodation has been cited. Universities are doing their utmost to assist students in finding accommodation this year, with many writing out to local communities to increase the number of bed spaces available.’
‘It’s really frustrating’