Students begin protest outside Leinster House

Up to 30 students have set up camp outside Leister House in Dublin this evening in protest over accommodation shortages.

The overnight demonstration is organised by student union representatives from around Dublin, who claim the problem has reached crisis point.

They say thousands of students are struggling to find affordable accommodation at a time when rents are on the increase.

The Union of Students of Ireland has called on the Government to immediately set up a Student Accommodation taskforce.