'An endless cycle' - Students on impact of accommodation crisis
Some students told RTÉ they are spending up to four hours a day travelling to and from college, with long commutes affecting their sleep, studies and social lives
As the new academic year commences, third-level students throughout Ireland face considerable challenges due to the lack of affordable accommodation near their colleges and universities. Many are spending upwards of four hours daily traveling to and from campus, which negatively impacts their sleep, studies, and social lives.
Laura Staroń, a second-year Pharmacy Technician Studies student at Technological University Dublin (TUD) residing in Thurles, Co. Tipperary, commutes to Dublin. Unable to find affordable housing within her budget, she is forced to make daily commutes, which she describes as an "endless cycle." A 9 am lecture for Laura means waking up as early as 4:30 am, catching the 6:15 am train, and returning home around 10 pm. This leaves her with only six hours of sleep per night, making it difficult to focus on her studies.
Similar issues plague students at other institutions like University College Cork (UCC) and NCAD. UCC President John O'Halloran highlighted the significant problem of a lack of affordable student accommodation, with students commuting from various parts of the country due to high rents in the city. The National Student Accommodation Strategy estimates a deficit of 15,000 student beds, contributing to long commutes for some students.
Keira Pedersen, a second-year Jewellery and Objects student at NCAD in Dublin, travels from Dunsany, Co. Meath, via two buses, spending up to four hours daily commuting. With her practical course requiring studio days on campus, her lengthy commute hampers her ability to utilize travel time for studying. Keira estimates she spends around 20 hours weekly commuting, which affects her social life as well, as she often has to choose between arriving early or late for classes.
Leen Darwich, a first-year science student at University College Dublin (UCD), also faces a four-hour daily commute from Kilcock, Co. Kildare. With classes starting at 9 am, Leen wakes up at 5 am and takes multiple buses to reach UCD. The unreliability of public transport further exacerbates her situation, as she often faces delays or empty buses. The long commute leaves her severely sleep-deprived, struggling to maintain a healthy work-life balance and limiting her ability to participate in social activities on campus.
Written by urgent.news from RTE News's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
