The lack of availability, and the unaffordability of what is available, are proving to be a barrier to some pursuing further and higher educations.
Senator Pauline Tully contributed to a Seanad debate about student accommodation this week.
The Co. Cavan Senator believes that many students are being forced to live with their parents, and it is putting pressure on them.
As well as difficulties with accommodation, Senator Tully also highlighted that options for commuting are not always reliable.
According to the Senator, of those students who are renting, 60% are struggling to pay the rent.
Speaking in the Seanad, she said that many students are dropping out because they can’t maintain both the jobs and their studies.
"The lack of availability and the unaffordability of what is available are proving a barrier to some pursuing further and higher eduation options. We see many young people forced to live at home with parents, which is the last thing they want to do. After doing their leaving certificate, they want to experience college life and get away. I know a lad doing his leaving certificate next week and he cannot wait to get away. Hopefully it will all work out for him in the autumn.
"The fact that students are living at home is putting pressure on them because they are commuting. The options for commuting are not always reliable, whether it is the bus service, the train service or even if they are driving, with traffic and everything else," she said.
"There is a cost to that. It is not just a financial cost, although there is that too. There is also a cost in terms of their ability to study. They will be tired from all of the commuting. There is a cost in terms of their ability to engage in college life. Of those who are renting, approximately 60% are struggling to pay the rent.
"Many of them are working part-time, or almost full-time, to cover the costs. That is also having an impact on their ability to study and live their lives. Many of them are dropping out because they cannot maintain both the job and their studies," Senator Tully added.
