Soaring rent ‘could force students out of college’

SOARING rents and below-inflation grant increases may force college students to drop out of their courses in the coming months, it was claimed last night.

The warning from the Union of Students in Ireland came as they estimate monthly accommodation costs could reach more than €600 in cities and up to €500 in smaller towns.

USI president Colm Hamrogue called on Education Minister Mary Hanafin to urgently reduce the €775 college registration fee, which even some the poorest students must pay on return to college if they are waiting on their grant.

“From September, students in all parts of Ireland face massive financial pressure, with rents now expected to top €5,000 to €6,000 a year, or as much as €7,000 for house-shares and flats in parts of the main cities. All students will have lower incomes and higher out-goings from the autumn,” he said.

“Easing the €775 registration fee for students in all income categories is the only way to avoid a situation where many students will be forced to accrue daunting debts, devote excessive hours to paid employment, or be forced to drop out of college after trying and failing to make ends meet,” he said.