Dundalk IT SU President calls for SUSI reform and reduction in college fees
Students Union President Gerry O'Brien spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about some of the financial challenges facing students
President of Dundalk Institution of Technology (DkIT) Students Union, Gerry O'Brien, has called on the Government to reinstate the reduction in third level fees that was introduced last year as a temporary measure, as well as a reform of the Student Grant Scheme (SUSI), to help students to achieve their full potential in college.
The Students Union President for the upcoming academic year spoke to the Dundalk Democrat about some of the financial challenges facing students at the moment, including accommodation. “The problem with accommodation at DkIT”, Gerry said, “is we actually physically do not own any accommodation. The Institute does not own or operate any accommodation. We have a problem with that as such. We have no control over the pricing, or who they take or who they don't take.
“Some of the older ones there, Greenpark Village, they're running about €550 a month. So that's your utilites on top of that, plus you have to feed yourself on top of that. for that €550 a month, you will get a private room, with a bed, a desk and a wardrobe. You share bathroom facilities, kitchen facilities and dining facilities.
“The newer ones that are built, Greenpark Houses, they're €750 a month, plus your utilities, plus you have to feed yourself. That's a small mortgage. People are paying less on mortgages. For that they have an en-suite in their room. The facilities are good, it is good, it is well maintained and the whole lot, but the issue is people just can't afford it.
"International students are the ones who will be able to afford that, whether they're funded by their parents who are able to support them in that, I don't know. They seem to be the ones who mostly avail of that accommodation.”
In terms of private houses that are available for rent, Gerry said that, “we updated our website this year and people were slow to get their listings up. Last week there was 15 – 20 listings, whereas last year we had 50 plus. For accommodation in people's houses, digs, it usually runs from a Sunday night or Monday morning to a Friday evening, and people ususally charge about €120 a week, but the bills will be included in that. Mostly apprentices will take them.”
“Or you will have people that will commute from the likes of Cavan. Cavan in particular is a hard place to commute from. We are mostly a commuter college now to be fair. It's having a huge impact. Campus life is not [what it was], the student days are not what they were.
“You used to see it in around the town of Dundalk, it was vibrant, students were out three or four nights a week, there was a social aspect to the college – which there should be. Because you develop emotionally and socially when you're in college. Even as a mature student, I didn't think it was possible, but I did.
“That aspect of student life is gone, whereas students would have been able to study, socialise and do all that. Now, just to get by they have to work as well. So you'll have some of them, they are in accommodation, they may have to work a job, sometimes up to full time hours, just to make ends meet.
“When you study you need to dedicate yourself to the study, that is your full-time job or role as a student. Instead of that, they're picking up that job in the evenings, they're working weekends, and they're not achieving like they should.
“I'm not saying they're dropping out, but it is having an effect on retention and progression.
“It's not just accommodation, it's life in general and the cost of living, it's affecting people a lot. If your family can't support you, you are literally on your own, and its emotionally and physically draining for people to actually work and attend college at the same time, and achieve their full potential.”
Gerry added that, “it's important for us all to care, I know we all have our own lives and we all have our own issues, but when you look at the bigger picture – the students that are in here today studying, are the future of industry in this country.
“That's why there's so many international companies coming here, because they have access to quality graduates, skilled workforces, and if we stop supporting these people, if we stop supporting them through their studies, we're not going to have that. It's a vital thing for this country that we continue to support our students.”
It is something he intends to bring up with Minister for Further and Higher Education, James Lawless TD, at a planned meeting this September. Reform of the SUSI grant process and a reduction on fees top the agenda. “The reduction on fees, and SUSI, the Government needs to look at ways to reform the SUSI grant, there are student accommodation funds that people can avail of but if you don't qualify for SUSI, you're not qualifying for them.”