Katie Ascough, while she was President of the Students' Union, worked on the rent issues facing students. The chaplain of University College Dublin (UCD) has said action needs to be taken as the Students Union (SU) protest a rent hike in campus accommodation.
Fr Leon Ó Giolláin SJ said on the cost of accommodation for students: “I’ve met that myself directly, just students not being able to find accommodation close enough to campus, but even when they get accommodation its often very basic.”
He said students have previously come to him distressed about the expense of living and being in college. Some struggled to afford food and transport.
The SU protested recently on March 4. “We’re actively lobbying. We are meeting with the management of the University one on one and in groups,” said SU president Joanna Siewierska.
Fr Leon speculated that proposals for a 12% increase in the cost of campus accommodation over the next three years could be UCD be preparing for a rent freeze with the new government. He feels a hardship fund would be a good move toward helping students cope.
Fr Leon said impeached SU president Katie Ascough, while she was in office, worked on the issue.