Demonstrations in UL demand plans to aid the accommodation crisis
Dozens of students gathered with the Student Housing Action Group outside the University of Limerick’s main building yesterday, October 10, to ask the university for concrete housing plans.
The last student accommodation built in UL, Cappavilla, was built in 2006, according to the UL Student Housing Action, and was extended further in 2007. The university student population has nearly doubled since then, with plans to increase the number of students attending.
As it stands, UL currently owns 2,930 student beds, which can accommodate roughly 16% of
students. Students unable to get university-owned accommodation are forced to commute from home, face the private rental market, or sleep in cars or on couches.
“Everyone knows someone who is in a really precarious situation because of the housing situation on campus.” commented Kasper Dumagala, a UL student and protest organiser. “We need more people on the ground.”
This housing action protest comes following the latest Committee of Public Accounts meeting, where UL officials were again questioned on the mismanagement of funds for the Rhebogue student village purchase and other questionable financial decisions made by the university.
According to a UL spokesperson, “University of Limerick is very conscious of a shortage of
student accommodation and is continuing to work together with the government, our partners in Limerick and the wider sector nationally to find solutions to this issue”. He also states that the UL Accommodation service is on-hand to support students with their search for off-campus accommodation through their website Studentpad.
People are calling for UL to enact a 10-year housing plan to improve the current
accommodation shortage and for more people to get involved in the fight for accommodation improvements.