Sinn Féin launch survey of students’ experiences of housing crisis

THE Sinn Féin spokesperson on Further and Higher Education, Mayo Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh, has invited students to share their experiences of the student accommodation crisis in the party’s online survey.

The survey is an opportunity for students and apprentices to share their stories about how the housing crisis is impacting on their studies and wider college experience.

It comes amid growing concerns among students about whether there will be sufficient suitable accommodation as the new academic term begins.

Said Deputy Conway-Walsh: “Today Sinn Féin are launching our survey to hear students’ experiences of the college accommodation crisis. We want to hear from you about how the crisis is affecting you personally.

“Make your voice heard and take part in our survey, so that we can tell the real story of how this crisis is affecting people across the state.

“For months, I have been telling the minister that we are hurtling headlong into an accommodation crisis for students. Despite this, the government failed to act and students and their families are now paying the price. The chickens are coming home to roost because of government inaction.

“Students have been left in the lurch, and the minister needs to get his act together.”

She continued: “Sinn Féin have set out the solutions time and time again for many years now. We need urgent capital investment to enable HEIs to progress shovel-ready building projects and provide affordable accommodation.

“On-campus building projects had to be put on hold because it is not economically viable for HEIs to deliver them and offer them at an affordable rate without government financial intervention. From my consultations with HEIs, I estimate that between 3,000 and 6,000 beds are at advanced stages and could be progressed immediately as co-funded accommodation projects. Student affordability would obviously be a condition of such funding.

“We need to fully examine the use of rapid build construction units in the here and now as students need immediate action.

“The minister must also initiate a national awareness campaign on the rent-a-room tax relief to encourage homeowners to participate.

“There are tangible actions that Minister Harris can take in the here and now to alleviate the accommodation crisis ahead of the start of the college term.

“Sinn Féin will stand up for students to ensure that this housing crisis is tackled. Make your voice heard in our survey.”

Take part in the survey here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/StudentHousingCrisis