Ireland Student Accommodation Crisis Reaches a New High, Hopes High for Future

The Ireland student accommodation market has been plagued with a crisis until very recently. In recent news, a study conducted by an independent network along with student anecdotes has shown how hard the crisis has hit the nation, but there might still be a light at the end of the tunnel. 

A study conducted by the Irish Council for International Students (ICOS) - an independent group that covers everything regarding the issues faced by students - with respect to the Ireland student accommodation crisis found that restricted living conditions were the main cause of concern for many students in the country. In its sample size, about half the students were discovered sharing a room with three or more people, while one in 10 students was compelled to share a space with six other students! “There was a moment during my first semester when I was living with four other people in a single room because there were no other possibilities. It took me nearly six months to find an appropriate place to stay in Ireland, but I'm now settled in.” was what Sahil Choudhary, a University of Galway student, had to say about his stay in the country.

The study also uncovered that 14% of the students faced some sort of scam activities when looking for accommodation, and 66% admitted to the crisis having an impact on their mental health. “I’ve watched my friends stay in social housing in Ireland for months due to high rents and in some cases poor standards of accommodation in Dublin”, Upasana Barman, a Dublin Business School international student, noted.

It is not all gloomy, however. According to various media sources, the Irish government is set to tackle the situation, planning to invest up to €41 million in 2023 and also providing 405 new beds for students opting for Dublin City University accommodation. The efforts have been received in a positive light since the government has already invested €32 million in student accommodation in 2022. Dublin City University accommodations have already been going up, and now experts believe that the crisis has started slowly calming down as universities have begun efforts to control the situation. “The accommodation crisis in Ireland has leveled down as the universities have started building apartments and hostels on campuses.” said Ranjit Kumar, CEO of GoIreland Educational Consultancy. Authorities all over the country have begun acknowledging the issue at hand and how it has affected the students.

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