Irish students feeling the pinchA GRIM figure of 200 poverty-stricken student drop outs in the first term is being predicted in one Limerick college. And up to three students are sharing a room meant for one in a bid to afford to stay in their courses. That’s according to LIT Student Union President Chris Walsh (21) who said financing college education is the single biggest concern facing Limerick students.“Up to 200 students from LIT alone drop out of college in the first few months because they simply cannot afford it. Two and three people are sharing one bedroom, unbeknown to landlords, to reduce costs. Just today I received five enquiries regarding grants and accommodation. We have noticed a big uptake in emergency assistance funding requests and counselling services at the college,” he said. Mr Walsh, who is from Shannon, was reacting to a survey which reveals that parents spend more than €400 a month to fund their child in third-level education.The nationwide survey by the Irish League of Credit Unions found that excluding rent and bills, students are set to spend €516 a month on daily expenses, up from €484 in 2011, with parents continuing to foot most of the bill in the vast majority of cases. Eighty per cent of parents say they will pay the bulk of college- related costs, with an average contribution of €421 a month.
More students are working their way through college now than was the case two years ago, 66 per cent compared with 55 per cent in 2011.There are also indications that students are trying to cut down on costs with 32 per cent living away from home, compared to 49 per cent in 2011.
In last December’s budget, the Government announced an increase of €250 in the student registration charge, taking it to €2,500 from next month. Nearly one in 10 parents said their children would either not be able to go to college or will have to drop out as a result of the increased registration fees.
The credit union survey also found that 53 per cent of students who were due to get a grant last year experienced a delay, with one in three families saying they had to sacrifice essential household spending because of the delays.
UL Student Welfare officer Catriona Ní Dhonncdhú confirmed that finance is the primary concern for new and exciting students at UL. There was no spokesperson from Mary I Student Union available for comment.
