Students in Sligo sleeping in cars due to the lack of accommodation
The Sligo Champion“It appears students are tolerated and overlooked” said Cllr Ann Higgins when addressing the council chamber at the March meeting of Sligo County Council in relation to her motion which seeks greater protection for students in terms of their accommodation.
Cllr Higgins’ motion before the meeting read: “As the ongoing student accommodation crisis is the single biggest barrier to completing education, this motion calls on this Council to write to Minister for Housing James Browne to request that amendments are made to the Residential Tenancies Board Amendment Bill to include rent caps that are aligned to the academic year for purpose built student accommodation and the regulation of private student accommodation to protect student renters rights.”
Speaking on behalf of her motion and highlighting the seriousness of the situation Cllr Higgins commented, “I know of extreme cases where students are sleeping in cars.”
She added, “Rooms are rented out at the weekend for some who have to move everything out on a Friday afternoon before bringing it back again on Sunday evening. For many students there is no option but to break the tenancy which gives the landlord the opportunity to reset rents.”
Cllr Higgins called for “Similar protections to be put in place students in private accommodation” adding “The proposal to universities to condense itineraries beggars belief.”
She also reiterated her call for an improved train service saying, “Hopefully further pressure will be put on the NTA to deliver an early morning train from Longford to Sligo.”
Supporting the motion Cllr Donal Gilroy said, “We all know the problems that exist,” while Cllr Edel McSharry said, “Once students are competing with families in the market it becomes a problem.”
Agreeing with a point raised by Cllr Higgins, Cllr McSharry remarked, “Condensing a five-day timetable into three doesn’t work. There is a lot of learning that takes place outside the classroom.”
Suggesting possible solutions to address the issue, Cllr McSharry remarked, “Student accommodation can also be built by the council if that is a possibility. All avenues need to be explored. We need purpose built student accommodation.”
The conversation drew to a close with Cllr Higgins commenting, “Who builds the student accommodation? It doesn’t matter so long as it is built.”
Article Funded by the Local Democracy Reporting Scheme.