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UCD STUDENTS TODAY launched a tent protest after it emerged rents at campus accommodation are to increase by 12% in the next three years.
A number of students today pitched tents at the entrance to UCD to demonstrate against what they described as “ridiculous” increases at a time when students are already struggling with the daily cost of attending third level.
The students’ union is demanding the following:
For this academic year 2019/20, it costs between €6,745 and €11,591 in rent for the two semesters. Most students will be paying in excess of €7,000 to stay on campus.
Even at the lowest end, that’s €749 a month, meaning that rents have risen 76% at UCD in the past decade. And it’s set to rise again.
At Belgrove, this will rise to €7,948.47 by the 2022/23 academic year.
Garreth MacNamee / TwitterA group of students have been in tents since 8.30 this morning. They have described how a lack of affordable accommodation is forcing students to abandon their studies. pic.twitter.com/vXV1kDzADV
— Garreth MacNamee (@garmacnamee) February 27, 2020
President of the UCD Students’ Union, Joanna Siewierska, told TheJournal.ie how students are struggling to survive in college and that many of them have had to either return home or go to extreme measures to make sure they can continue their studies.
She said: “Staff have been so good and students are behind us as well – a lot of staff have kids here so they know the reality of having to fork out extortionate costs.
“I have a feeling this action won’t stop it but we’re trying. The hike is coming from university management. They are arguing that new legislation under the Rental Tenancy Board [allows them to increase rent]. I’d like to stress that the 4% was a cap and not an invitation. Second is inflation of maintenance contracts. The third is securing the €500 million loan to build further residences. The residences bring in about €23 milion a year as it stands.
“In the past UCD did subsidise accommodation and that’s what kept rents low. But at the moment it’s an agenda to increase these rents.
“The campus rents in UCD have increased by 76% over the last decade. As the UCD Students’ Union, we will not agree to the status quo on this issue. These rent increases are locking young people out of access to higher education and must be reversed immediately.”
Students at UCD are preparing for a large scale demonstration next week.
With reporting by Sean Murray
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Jobs for the boys version millionnaire dictatorship
@Paul Quirke:
Just another day in the Kingdom of Terrorism.
@Paul Quirke: I wonder did Donald Trump call him to congratulate hos closest ally.
As the country and the Saudi citizens are not under any threat from neighbouring country’s the amount of weapons purchased from America (and England) to protect these people is astonishing.
@Dave Hogan: perhaps you should look into the difference between the Saudi army and the civil guard .
@Ken Hayden: The new chief of staff of Isis should be his title
The White House has heralded this appointment as “a great victory for democracy”. The EU, UK, and other allied states have echoed this position.
If you disagree with them you must be a terrorist whose country needs some freedom. Move along please nothing to see here.
Half the population are under 25. That is mind blowing.
@Ace: our population was similarly skewed in terms of age distribution about 30 years ago. Not that astonishing tbh.
@Zx5vZulB: I disagree. I think it is very astonishing.
Look at the changes that have come about in Ireland over the past 30 years as a result. Seperation of church and state, gay marriage etc. No way this would have happened with the old generation. Sure condoms were illegal until the 90′s. This is in no small part due to the surge in the young population.
I think you will see some big changes in Saudi over the next generation too. Having lived in the Middle East, and met may Saudis, I can tell you that every one I met was pro womens rights and generally quite westernised. Once the old guard starts to die off things will change.
@Ace:
Do you think that a Saudi franchised network of condom vending machines might work anytime soon?
Like Israel yet another historical British gift that keeps on giving and giving and giving.
Should have decimated that hell hole after 9/11 instead of sending us to Afghanistan and Iraq.
On 10 January 2016, The Independent reported that “the BND, the German intelligence agency … portrayed Saudi defence minister and Deputy Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman … as a political gambler who is destabilising the Arab world through proxy wars in Yemen and Syria.”[27][29][30][33]
Its good to be the King…Leo the liarheart would love that…
I don’t get the sub headline “all change”
Surely a case of “plus ça change, plus c’est la même chose”
That’s the sort of power Trump would like to have.
The USA is being two faced in supporting the House of Saud and then fighting wars to
debunk such tyrannical regimes and install the good old USA style of Capitalist Democracy. No wonder the USA is seen as a hypocrite in the Middle East.
A disgusting country. Hopefully the monarchy will implode.
@prop joe: hopefully oil will implode then America won’t give a feck anymore and this place will revert to a hot Sandy s-hit-hole that nobody cares about. Awful place with prehistoric legal system
Bit like installing something to the AG office
Lifted by the hasp of the arse
Does this mean he’s on the dole?
I hope he got his redundancy.
Silly place
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