Student describes stress of accommodation crisis

By Sarah Slevin

Local students have described the run-up to this academic year as “stressful” and a “nightmare” with the severe shortage of student accommodation.

Last week, third level students organised a 24-hour sleep-out outside Leinster House to call on the government to address the lack of student accommodation.

Mairead Martin from Ballymore is starting first year in NUI Galway this week, but had her name on a waiting list for student accommodation since the end of 2020.

Despite only being halfway through her Leaving Certificate year at the time, Mairead had to get on a waiting list in Galway city more than nine months before she was offered a college place.

“It was a nightmare trying to get somewhere. I was on the waiting list for Corrib village (student accommodation) since last year, and I finally got an email just last week that I got a place in a twin room, which wasn’t exactly what I wanted but it’s better than nothing,” Mairead said.

Mairead had NUIG down as her first choice and got her place a few weeks ago but has spent the time since then worrying about where she would be staying rather than getting excited.

“I was looking for accommodation before I got my place but when I knew I was definitely going to Galway, I was looking more and there was nothing,” Mairead said.

“Some of my friends didn’t get accommodation yet; one of them got a place in digs just last Thursday and we’re starting this week.”

Despite having her name on a list, Mairead exhausted many resources to have back-ups as she knew nothing was guaranteed.

“I applied for every student accommodation, I sent out references and I rang families. It was so stressful; I also went onto those sites like daft.ie and rang them but everywhere was booked out for the whole year,” Mairead said.

“I thought I might have to get the train every day, I don’t drive yet, and it’d be so expensive.”

It is likely that many students will have to commute this year, while some are even living in hotels.

“They (the government) need to provide more accommodation, it is way too expensive to be living in a hotel especially just for college,” Mairead said.