USI officer to tackle housing crisis for students

Junior Housing Minister Damien English has said he would personally like to give students extra cash to deal with soaring rents but that budgets must be balanced.

His comments came as third-level students this week began in earnest to hunt for housing against the background of a shortfall of 25,000 accommodation units for colleges.

The Government has now funded a special student accommodation officer to oversee barriers to students getting a room.