Enough Is Enough
ANOTE FROMUS
We have seen consistently how the accommodation crisis is impacting our students, despite calls for systemic change from both local and National Unions. The accommodation crisis is not a student crisis, it is a national crisis. Our students are struggling, being tied down by increasing costs, a rental system that favours landlords, and legislation that does very little to protect them. This survey aims to highlight the crisis, not only in Galway, but as part of a growing National crisis, affecting people of all ages here in Ireland
We must work together, with our legislators, to end Generation Emigration, and to fix this rental crisis once and for all Faye Ní Dhomhnaill, Uachtarán
SUMMARY
The data on which this report is based was gathered from students of University of Galway. There were 1,710 responses from students across the University of Galway, representing approximately 8.5% of the student population. Undergraduate students accounted for approximately 65% of respondents, Postgraduate students accounted for 30% of respondents, and Visiting/Erasmus Students accounted for 5% of all respondents.
43% of respondents claimed to be receiving financial support for their studies, whereas 57% receive no funding for their studies. 24% of all respondents are in receipt of a SUSI Grant.
5% of respondents reported living in temporary/emergency accommodation, with the highest proportion of these students being from the College of Business, Public Policy and Law, with 10% of that cohort reporting living in temporary/emergency accommodation. 12% of students reported living with family instead of living in student accommodation.
50% of students are working part time in order to afford their accommodation and studies, and of those 50%, 25% report working definitely having a negative impact on their education, and a further 30% say working has had a somewhat negative impact on their education. 15% of respondents have been victims of rental scams. It is clear from our survey that better access to rented accommodation, and increased protections are needed for students in private rented accommodation.
KEYFINDINGSACCOMMODATION
8% of students commute for over an hour to get to campus
78% of students struggled to find accommodation
15% of students have been the victim of a rental scam
1 in 20 students are in temporary/ emergency accommodation
28% of students say their accommodation has had a negative impact on their educational experience
50% of students in twin rooms did not know the other occupant before moving in
83% of students expressed frustration at the process of finding accommodation
31% of students would have reconsidered coming to University had they known how difficult the accommodation crisis would be
KEYFINDINGSCOSTOFLIVING
43% of students are in receipt of financial aid to afford college.
24% of all students are SUSI recipients
56% of students say working part time has negatively impacted their education
49% of students agree theythey struggle to pay rent
50% of students are working part-time to afford their studies
66% of respondents are paying over €500 in rent each month. According to the Central Statistics Office, people in the 1524 age bracket are in the lowest median earners, earning €339 per week, or €1,357 monthly.
WHATARESTUDENTS SAYING
I’m stressed, low energy, tired and nearing burnout
I’m constantly so behind on college work as I work full weekends and commute
I find myself missing Monday in college because I work on Sundays and miss all the trains
Accommodation is so expensive it’s cheaper to commute from Clare
Third level education is inaccessible to most
It’s hard to keep up with coursework and I have no social life
I only have the option to work on weekends to I struggle to afford my weeks
Working definitely encourages responsibility but it’s not easy in college 5 days then working the other 2 means you never get a day off to rest or study
College isn’t affordable at all, especially if you don’t have the option to live at home
METHODOLOGY
This data was collected via a survey platformed on SurveyMonkey. Our survey was distributed through our weekly student mailer, across our social media platforms, and in person via lecture shoutouts and orientation sessions.
The survey comprised of a variety of multiple choice questions, with branching answers giving us college level breakdowns of facts. This is the first survey of its kind that has been run by Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe, however we will strive for it to be continued by future executive committees to ensure an accurate read will be provided year on year.
This survey garnered 1,710 responses, representing 8.5% of the University of Galway population
SUSI Grant Postgraduate Scholarship
Undergraduate Scholarship
Emergency Hardship Fund Financial Aid Fund
HEAR/DARE Funding 1916 Bursary Fund
Receive 0 Funding Other
OTHERFUNDINGSOURCES (116RESPONDENTS)
Erasmus Loan Federal Aid
Governmental Aid (Various Countries)
“HOWMUCHRENTDOYOU PAY?”
No. of Respondents
<€400 Between€400&€500Between€500&€600Between€600&€700Between€700&€800Between€800&€900Between€900&€1,000Between€1,000&€1,100Between€1,100&€1,200Between€1,200&€1,300Between€1,300&€1,400Between€1,400&€1,500Over€1,500
66% of respondents are paying over €500 in rent each month. According to the Central Statistics Office, people in the 15-24 age bracket are in the lowest median earners, earning €339 per week, or €1,357 monthly. (REF). According to numbeo.com, the cost of living for a single person living in Galway before rent is €934 before rent. This means that statistically speaking, 66% of respondents are living beyond their means
“DOYOUSHAREAROOM?”
“DIDYOUKNOWTHEOTHER
OCCUPANTBEFOREMOVING
CONCLUSION
Clearer communication is needed from the Government to address the growing accommodation crisis. Young people deserve full and complete knowledge of the crisis, with better reporting methods from the Government. The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science must present a yearly report, compiled alongside the Union of Students in Ireland to clearly communicate to incoming students the reality of the accommodation crisis.
We urge the Government to invest in purpose-built student accommodation. It is no longer satisfactory to depend on Third Level Institutions to build their own accommodation. In the mean time, the Government must enact a Technical University borrowing policy, in order to enable Technical Universities to build their own accommodation for their students. Students within Technical Universities are almost entirely at the mercy of a Landlord’s Market, and we cannot encourage this to continue any longer.
The Government must engage with both the Union of Students in Ireland, and Students’ Unions within Third Level Institutions in the development and implementation of a National Student Accommodation Strategy.
Until such time as the National Accommodation Crisis is adequately addressed, and all students attending Third Level Education in Ireland are able to access Purpose Built Student Accommodation, the Government must also provide extended protection for those living in Digs, Owner Occupied Accommodation, and Private Rented Accommodation. Furthermore, the Government must strive to address and tackle the mental health issues young people are facing on account of the accommodation crisis. The Mental Health Bill (2024) must be prioritized by this current Government in order to adequately protect young people who are experiencing mental health crises on account of the stress caused by the accommodation crisis.
Is Leor É Sin
Labhair linn:
Faye Ní Dhomhnaill
Uachtarán, Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe 24/25
091 492 746
086 385 5502 su.president@universityofgalway.ie