Students’ Union Appeal for Rooms
University of Galway Students’ Union is asking the public for help in the search for student accommodation before the return to college for 20,000 University of Galway students on the 7th of September. The Union will be distributing leaflets to Galway commuters outside the train station and bus stops this week in an effort to source rooms for new and returning 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. The rent-a-room relief scheme allows homeowners to earn up to €14,000 per year tax-free.
Students’ Union President Seán de Búrca said: “We will be distributing up to 1,000 leaflets this week in town and to housing near campus. If anyone has room to spare please consider renting to a student. Our students are among the worst affected by the continuing housing crisis. Each year we have students commuting for up to 7 hours a day, paying extortionate rent, sleeping on friends’ couches or living in hostels. “
Students’ Union Vice President/Welfare and Equality Officer Molly Hickey added: “We are getting hundreds of emails and phone calls every day from students and their families 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.”
Achainí Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn ar lorg Seomraí
Tá Comhaltas na Mac Léinn in Ollscoil na Gaillimhe ag iarraidh ar an bpobal cabhrú leis an gcuardach ar lóistín do mhic léinn sula bhfilleann 20,000 mac léinn de chuid na hOllscoile ar an gcoláiste ar an 7 Meán Fómhair. Beidh an Comhaltas ag dáileadh bileog lasmuigh den stáisiún traenach agus ag stadanna bus ar chomaitéirí i nGaillimh san iarracht le seomraí a aimsiú do mhic léinn nua agus mic léinn atá ag filleadh.
Tá an Comhaltas ag iarraidh ar dhaoine a bhfuil seomraí breise oiriúnacha acu iad a ligean ar cíos le mic léinn agus, chuige sin, iad a fhógairt saor in aisce ar láithreán gréasáin ‘Student Pad’ na hOllscoile. Leis an scéim faoisimh i leith seomra a ligean ar cíos, tá úinéirí tí in ann suas le €14,000 a thuilleamh sa bhliain saor ó cháin.
Arsa Uachtarán Chomhaltas na Mac Léinn Seán de Búrca: “Táimid chun suas le 2,000 bileog a dháileadh an tseachtain seo sa bhaile mór agus ar thithe gar don champas. Má tá seomra breise ag duine ar bith, smaoinigh ar a ligean ar cíos le mac léinn. Tá ár mic léinn san Ollscoil ar na daoine is mó atá thíos leis mar gheall ar an ngéarchéim leanúnach thithíochta. Gach bliain bíonn mic léinn againn ar an mbóthar suas le 7 n-uair an chloig sa lá, ag íoc cíos thar a bheith ard, ag codladh ar tholg cairde leo nó ina gcónaí i mbrúnna. “
Bhí an méid seo le rá ag Molly Hickey, 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 ndéanamh 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.”
