Patrick Curtin. students' union president at the Waterford campus of South East Technological University: 'A lot of private accommodation isn’t there any more; it’s been sold on or used for Airbnb… Some homeowners have also been reluctant to rent out rooms for digs due to Covid.' Photograph: Mary BrownePatrick Curtin is worried.
“I think the student accommodation crisis will be worse than ever,” says Curtin. “We’re a university, now, which may see an uptick in demand. A lot of private accommodation isn’t there any more; it’s been sold on or used for Airbnb… some homeowners have also been reluctant to rent out rooms for digs due to Covid.”
The shortage of student accommodation crisis isn’t new. In the face of similar controversies, the Government launched a national student accommodation strategy in July 2017 aimed at supporting the development of purpose-built units. Work has yet to begin. The university estimated last year it would have had to charge up to €16,000 a year to students, almost three times the cost of its other on-campus accommodation.
“While we already have planning permission and project tender packs ready to issue, it must be recognised that it would take three years for all the planned bedrooms to be delivered. There is no quick fix for this problem.” “A decision on a subvention is therefore urgently required as in the interim period the situation will only get worse. The accommodation shortage for students is part of the wider issue of housing. More university residences is only one small part of addressing the housing crisis,” he says.It means there are limited options available to the Government – or universities – in boosting accommodation options between now and September.