John McNulty, standing as a candidate in the upcoming General Election for Fine Gael in Donegal, has called for more action on the student accommodation crisis.
The Kilcar man says he intends to explore “viable options” to increase both the availability and affordability of suitable accommodation, to ensure that the needs of Donegal students are met.
“Whether from Glencolmcille, Fanad Head, Malin, or Donegal Town, I fully recognise the significant challenges that students and their families face. These include balancing studies with the desire to return home for work and family on weekends, as well as the ongoing struggle to secure suitable accommodation,” he said.
“I am committed to engaging with parents, students, educational institutions, and the Union of Students in Ireland. My goal is to advocate for the introduction of more flexible timetables that will allow students to complete their classes earlier, to enable them to travel home on weekends.”
McNulty welcomed this week’s announcement from Fine Gael Minister Patrick O’Donovan, Further and Higher Education, that €600,000 from the Dormant Accounts Fund will be ring-fenced as part of the Student Assistance Find (SSAF) to help alleviate the cost of student accommodation for our young people.
“This funding will assist students who are economically or educationally disadvantaged with the costs associated with pursuing further and higher education,” McNulty said.
To avail of this measure students must be living independently while attending third level education; this includes students renting away from home during the academic year and also those students with leases covering 12 months and beyond. Both full-time and part-time undergraduate and postgraduate students in Donegal who meet this criteria are eligible for the student accommodation assistance.
“It is important that students from Donegal have access to safe and affordable accommodation as they pursue their studies, whether in Donegal or in any educational institution across the country, and I believe this new funding can go a long way to making third level education more accessible,” concluded McNulty.
