Students’ Union Launches Urgent Appeal for Rooms
University of Galway Students’ Union has started distributing leaflets urging homeowners to consider renting out their spare rooms to students. With the start of the academic year next week there’s an acute shortage of accommodation for new and returning University of Galway students.
The Union is asking those with suitable spare rooms to open them up to student renters by advertising them for free on the University Student Pad website. Those participating in the Rent-a-Room Relief Scheme can earn up to €14,000 per year tax free. The appeal aims to draw attention to the plight of the many students who can’t find housing.
Students’ Union President Maisie Hall said: “We are asking Galwegians with spare rooms to please consider renting to University of Galway students. It’s free to advertise on the University website and your room could be the difference between a student dropping out or continuing their studies. We have students commuting for up to 7 hours a day, paying extortionate rent, sleeping on friends couches or living in hostels. Students cannot possibly study, live and work under these conditions.”
Students’ Union Vice President/Welfare and Equality Officer Paddy Marnane added: “We are getting hundreds of emails and phone calls every day from students and their families who are desperately seeking housing. It’s heart breaking to hear the circumstances that students are finding themselves in. There’s also been an increase in accommodation fraud which is adding to this nightmare situation.”
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Achainí Phráinneach ar Sheomraí á Déanamh ag Comhaltas na Mac Léinn
Tá Comhaltas na Mac Léinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag dáileadh bileog ag impí ar úinéirí tí smaoineamh ar na seomraí breise atá acu a ligean ar cíos do mhic léinn. Agus tús le teacht leis an mbliain acadúil úr an tseachtain seo chugainn, tá géarghanntanas lóistín ann do mhic léinn nua agus do mhic léinn atá ag filleadh ar Ollscoil na Gaillimhe.
Tá an Comhaltas ag iarraidh ar dhaoine a bhfuil seomraí breise oiriúnacha acu iad a ligean ar cíos do mhic léinn agus, chuige sin, iad a fhógairt saor in aisce ar láithreán gréasáin ‘Student Pad‘ na hOllscoile. Is féidir leo siúd a ghlacann páirt sa Scéim um Fhaoiseamh i leith Seomra a Ligean ar Cíos suas le €14,000 a thuilleamh saor ó cháin sa bhliain. Tá sé mar aidhm ag an achainí aird a tharraingt ar chruachás an iliomad mic léinn nach bhfuil ag éirí leo teacht ar thithíocht.
Dúirt Uachtarán Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn, Maisie Hall: “Tá muid ag iarraidh ar dhaoine de mhuintir na Gaillimhe a bhfuil seomraí breise acu smaoineamh ar iad a ligean ar cíos do mhic léinn de chuid Ollscoil na Gaillimhe. Tá sé saor in aisce fógraíocht a dhéanamh ar láithreán gréasáin na hOllscoile agus d’fhéadfadh do sheomra ligean do mhac léinn leanúint ar aghaidh lena chuid staidéir in áit éirí as. Bíonn roinnt mic léinn ar an mbóthar 7 n-uair an chloig sa lá, roinnt ag íoc cíos thar a bheith ard, agus roinnt eile ag codladh ar tholg cairde leo nó ina gcónaí i mbrúnna. Ní féidir le mic léinn a bheith ag staidéar, ag maireachtáil agus ag obair faoi na dálaí sin.”
Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Paddy Marnane, Leasuachtarán de chuid an Chomhaltais/an tOifigeach Leasa agus Comhionannais: “Tá na céadta ríomhphost agus glaonna gutháin á bhfáil againn gach lá ó mhic léinn agus ó dhaoine dá muintir a bhfuil a seacht ndícheall á dhéanamh acu teacht ar thithíocht. Briseadh croí atá ann cloisteáil faoi chás na mac léinn sin. Tá méadú tagtha ar chalaois i gcúrsaí lóistín freisin, rud a dhéanann an scéal uafásach seo níos measa fós.”
