Locked kitchens after 10pm; a curfew on microwave usage; and early kickout times on a Friday. Those are just some of the issues being faced by new third level students in Galway City, just one week into the college year – and that’s for those “lucky enough” to find a place.

As students made their return to the city this week, University of Galway Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer, Izzy Tiernan, said she was fielding numerous calls every day from students unable to find accommodation, and more from those who have been forced into sub-standard digs.

“We are crying out for rooms but digs are totally unregulated. The accommodation needs to be appropriate – you can’t rent a room and then limit the use of the facilities such as the kitchen and bathroom.

“What you are offering needs to be a quiet, safe space for a student and appropriate accommodation for an adult. There are cases where there are restrictions on using the microwave; the kitchen door is being locked after 10pm,” said Izzy Tiernan.

“That means that the student – an adult – has to be home by a certain time if they want to eat. And that’s not just restrictive on socialising. It also means they can’t get involved in a lot of societies, clubs or activities,” they said.

Students were turning to digs – renting a room in a house which they will share with the owner – because of the dearth of private rental accommodation, and the “outrageous” rents being charged in student-specific accommodation.

Photo:

Microwave…off limits by night.

See the full story in this week’s Connacht Tribune, on sale in shops now, or you can download the digital edition from www.connachttribune.ie. You can also download our Connacht Tribune App from Apple’s App Store or get the Android Version from Google Play.