Mattie McGrath demands support for students hit by accommodation fees
Mattie McGrath raised concerns about students paying large accommodation fees and asked the government to consider a support package for struggling students and families. He warned that private providers are charging students for future semesters while many are studying from home and not using paid accommodation.
Request for support package
McGrath asked the government to consider some kind of support package for struggling families and students who have paid enormous accommodation costs as well as college fees, calling the situation very unfair and urging that young people be looked after.
Payment practices and contracts
He highlighted that private providers continue to take money and that students are being asked for costs for the next semester from January while many are at home. The minister replied that situations differ - in some cases accommodation is owned by a college, in others by a company, and people have entered into contracts.
Government measures under way
The minister said he is working on the issue and has provided an increase in the Susie grant and a partial rebate of some student fees. The minister acknowledged the variety of circumstances and indicated the matter is being worked on.
Impact on students and families
McGrath noted that students, including nurses, have had a traumatic year and face uncertainty going into the next year, and he argued that families need some comeback on funding for accommodation and fees.
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Les Cancola, Teachta, students in total labour accommodation, they've paid huge fees along with their families, the Minister of Education has given no instruction for the college to return, so would you please consider your government, some kind of support package for struggling families and students who've paid enormous accommodation costs as well as college fees, but the accommodation costs is huge, and now they've been asked for costs for the next semester from January on, it's very unfair, we need to look after our young people, other people have mentioned the students, nurses as well, this is shocking, they've had a traumatic enough time last year, and many of them, and going into next year as well, uncertainty, but the families need to get some comeback on this funding, and even asking the private providers to help out either, they're just taking the money, and students out home struggling to study from home, and not living in the accommodation, it's certainly very, very unfair. Thanks very much Deputy, I know this is an issue that Minister Harris is working on, and has provided an increase in the Susie grant, and also a partial rebate of some student fees, there are different situations and different circumstances, in some cases the accommodation is owned by a college, in other cases it's not, the accommodation is owned by a company and people have entered into contracts, but I know it's something that he is working on.
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