COMPLAINTS have been made that college students are having to fork out big sums of money for rent even though they are sleeping in their own homes due to Covid-19 restrictions.
Cllr Jackie Healy-Rae said students are learning from home rather than on campus or rented accommodation even though they paid large deposits for accommodation months in advance to secure places to stay to be close to their colleges.
He said the government ordered colleges to start the new semester with online classes just days before students headed back to college and the young people and their parents are paying a high price.
Cllr Healy-Rae said the government has turned its back on the students and the unions that represent their interests.
“People are drawing out loans from their local credit unions to keep paying accommodation costs while their children have been sent home to educate online,” Cllr Healy-Rae said.
He also fears that Kerry students will fare the worst as they are overly dependent on securing accommodation than most others due to the distance involved.
“Since the learning has gone online, with no real clarification on how long it will continue, they find themselves in a position of paying for accommodation that they are not staying in and fearful of giving it up in case they will be demanded back to campus for learning,” the Kerry County Council member stated.
Cllr Healy-Rae has appealed to the government to start showing some real leadership on the matter.
“This is an issue that needs someone to take the bull by the horns and lead. There has been a clear lack of leadership by this government since its formation and it is time they stepped out from behind the curtain and show some real leadership,” he remarked.
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