The president of Aontas na Mac Léinn, the national representative body for third-level students, has said the cost of college is becoming the “single greatest barrier to higher education in Ireland,” describing an affordability crisis across the sector.
Speaking on RTÉ’s Saturday with Cormac Ó hEadhra, Daniel Walsh said rental costs are a major contributing factor, reports RTE.
“We know that students all across the country are battling extortionate rents alongside a spiralling cost of living.
“Rents in Dublin are some of the most expensive in Europe and our students all across the country are struggling every year to find affordable accommodation,” reports RTE.
The small amount of student accommodation that does exist is far beyond the reach of ordinary students, he said, pointing to new accommodation that opened last month in Galway with basic rooms starting at €300 per week.
“That’s not affordable for anyone, that’s not sustainable,” reports RTE.
To address the affordability crisis across the sector, he said State investment in purpose-built student accommodation is essential.
The student contribution charge is another significant issue, he added, describing it as “still one of the highest in Europe at €2,500 per student,” reports RTE.
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While a commitment was made in the Programme for Government to reduce and potentially abolish the charge, he said it was effectively increased back to €2,500 in last year’s Budget from the €2,000 level of the Covid years.
Mr Walsh said the cost of college is a national crisis, but is particularly acute in student cities like Dublin, Cork, Galway and Limerick where rental pressures are greater, reports RTE.
Some students are passing exams and completing their degrees while attending lectures hungry or commuting long distances, he said.
“We talk a lot about college and it being the best years of your life but for so many students all across the country college is just something that you have to survive,” reports RTE.
Speaking on the same programme, Minister of State at the Department of Further and Higher Education Marian Harkin said Ireland has the highest rate of 25 to 34-year-olds with higher education qualifications.
She said that over a quarter of a million students annually attend third-level and over 400,000 attend further education and training, reports RTE.
She said more than six in ten people aged between 25 and 34 in Ireland have higher education qualifications — “that’s the highest rate in Europe.”
“That tells us people are attending higher-level,” reports RTE.
She agreed people wanted to see progress on the student contribution, but said it was a permanent reduction by €500 to €2,500.
She added that the Student Assistance Fund was €19 million in this academic year and supported over 22,000 students with rent and food, reports RTE.
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