Students at the University of Limerick believe their student experience is negatively impacted by Ireland’s ongoing housing crisis and rising cost of living.
The rising cost of living and accommodation crisis is forcing students into long commutes and tough work schedules alongside their academic workloads, adding to both financial and academic stress.
UL Erasmus student Kajsa Hagset from Sweden says that she is missing out on key aspects of student life such as joining clubs, due to the lack of available housing close to university.
She currently commutes over an hour, stating that it was the only accommodation she could find.
Kajsa, alongside many other Erasmus students, struggled to find accommodation prior to her arrival to Ireland. She said the search for affordable accommodation in Limerick caused lots of financial pressure, dampening her student experience in UL.
“My rent is twice as high here compared to in my home country, so if I didn’t have money saved before coming here, I would be extremely stressed.”
It’s not just international students concerned, UL student Sophie Hartridge said the increased housing costs meant she had live at home and study in Limerick, instead of going to university in Galway as she previously planned.
Sophie thinks “the government are handling the situation horribly, They are putting themselves before the people.”
The cost of living and ongoing housing crisis worries Sophie. She questions whether moving abroad after university might be an option, “I’m trying to figure out if moving abroad will give me better affordability for housing.”
These comments come in the wake of a crushing blow for Mayor John Moran, whose plans to develop 400-500 modular homes at a park in Boro Fields on the city’s southside were squashed at a recent council meeting.
Local councillors instated emergency legislation to halt Mr. Morans plans to build temporary homes in the Boro Park at Janesboro.
Many locals were opposed to the project, saying they did not want to see a loss of green space.
Kajsa agrees with local opposition, asking “are there not any other available spots to build housing on? On my bus ride to school we pass several empty fields, why choose a park that the citizens want to preserve?”
Sophie is also opposed to the Mayor’s plans, saying they are “atrocious”, as the location is “widely used by locals”.
Mayor Moran defended the housing development in a blog on Monday, 20 April, stating that “Limerick needs homes. Limerick needs investment. Limerick needs progress. Many people have not been given the full picture.”