The next Government will need to invest nearly €2 billion to tackle Ireland’s student housing crisis, the Union of Students in Ireland has warned.
In a new ‘manifesto’ published in preparation for a general election announcement, the USI is calling for free student public transport, an end to third-level fees and a minimum €28,000 stipend for PhD students.
It also calls for the decriminalisation of drugs for personal use, multi-core funding for student mental health services and an increase in the availability of Irish language courses.
On Newstalk Breakfast this morning, USI President Chris Clifford said it is up to Government to come up with the funds that are needed.
"We’ve estimated about €1.9 billion is needed to address the shortfall of student accommodation, so it’s up to them to come up with that,” he said.
He said the manifesto calls for legislative change to let TUs (Technological Universities) borrow money to build and purchase student accommodation.
Fees
While the Union acknowledges that the third-level fees have been brought down with each budget over the last few years, Mr Clifford said cutting them altogether would leave more money in struggling students’ pockets.
"It would also give students more disposable income for the hidden costs of college, such as books, equipment, software, etc,” Mr Clifford claimed.
SUSI
While 50% of students receive the SUSI grant, Mr Clifford said the abolition of fees would help those who should be entitled to the grant but are stuck in an eligibility loophole.
"There are a lot of circumstances where people don’t receive SUSI who are well entitled to it," he said.
"There are situations where people don’t talk to their parents, there are situations where they have been renting for a number of years, but that landlord isn’t RTB registered so they don’t have ways to prove it, and they don’t actually qualify.”
Recreational drug usage
The new USI manifesto also urges the future government to decriminalise recreational drugs for personal use - a topic which has been widely controversial.
“The USI looks at the wider picture as well as students," Chris said. "We believe that decriminalisation can reduce the stigma, and encourage safer consumption practices."
The full manifesto is available to read here in English, or here in Irish.
Trinity students protest the cost of rent and lack of housing in Dublin, 13-09-2023. Image: Sam Boal/Rollingnews
