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Students’ Union push for further accommodation refunds to be given in open letter to landlords
By Caoimhe Killeen
NUI Galway’s Students’ Union have pushed further in urging landlords and student accommodation providers to refund students who can no longer stay in Galway due to online learning.
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It comes after the entire country was placed on a strict six-week lockdown under Level 5 restrictions.
A joint letter was issued by the President of NUIG and the Students’ Union President this week to all Galway landlords and student accommodation providers in a call to show “care and compassion to students during the Covid-19 emergency.” It also acknowledged that property owners were also facing a “stressful and difficult economic time” but there needed to be cooperation on both sides to “create an impression of Galway as a destination for study.”
So far, the on-campus accommodation of Corrib Village and Goldcrest village alongside the privately run Menlo Park apartments have offered refunds to students who are no longer taking up their accommodation offers.
“With the announcement that most teaching will be online for the current semester at NUI Galway, a lot of our students have found themselves with accommodation they no longer need and can’t afford,” says NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President Pádraic Toomey.
“This is adding extra financial pressures to students and their families at a stressful time of huge uncertainty. We are calling on all accommodation pro-
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NUI Galway Students’ Union launched a Charity Challenge program which will challenge students and staff at NUI Galway to several different types of tasks and activities. The program is set to run from November through until April for the academic year 2020/21.
The aim of this challenge is to raise much-needed funds for various local charities that provide irreplaceable services to the Galway community. This viders in Galway to talk to their tenants and look at how they can be flexible in their rental agreements.”
Students’ Union Welfare and Equality Officer Róisín Nic Lochlainn added: “We hope that other student accommodation providers and landlords in Galway will follow in the footsteps of Campus Living and Menlo Park and provide refunds to students who no longer need accommodation. I’ve met with representatives from most of the large student accommodation developments to try to includes the Galway Autism Partnership, Galway Rape Crisis Centre and Helplink Mental Health.
The Galway Autism Partnership supports families and individuals affected by Autism Spectrum Disorder, while the Galway Rape Crisis Centre is dedicated to providing a professional, caring and confidential counselling and support service for those in our community affected by sexual abuse and sexual violence.
Helplink Mental Health is also a charitable organisation providing accessible impress upon them the need for compassion this year so that students can afford to rent in Galway in future years.”
In an address to Minister Simon Harris in the Dáil, Sinn Féin Spokesperson on Further and Higher Education Rose Conway-Walsh also stressed that the Government cannot observe while students get “fleeced” for accommodation that cannot use because of the ongoing restrictions.
“Students followed the government assurances and paid for accommodacounselling, information, and education mental health services locally, nationally and internationally.
Each month, those partaking in the program will face new challenges and goals to meet, or as the Students’ Union put it, exceed the challenge. The objectives of the challenges are routed in the idea of being active to benefit a healthy body and healthy mind, as well as actively being kind to others.
The first challenge will begin in November and will be the Kilometre tion because they did not have their timetable finalised until it was too late. Now, many no longer need this accommodation but have already handed over thousands and thousands of euro.”
Deputy Conway-Walsh also noted the uniquely vulnerable position of students in the rental market, due to them having to pay rent months in advance. “Since the outbreak of Covid-19, students and parents have had to fight to get refunds for unused accommodation…students are told that there is no protective legChallenge, which aims to motivate participants to complete a target amount of kilometres throughout the course of the month. This is followed by the Random Acts of Kindness Challenge in December, where participants will challenge themselves to complete any amount of kind acts to spread some festive cheer. Speaking about the launch of the Charity Challenge, NUI Galway Students’ Union President, Pádraic Toomey said: “We are very excited to launch our Charity Challenge to raise much needed islation in place for renters and that they will not be entitled to their money back... Surely that must mean that we put in place measures to ensure that they are given fair play.”
She concluded by echoing the statement that accommodation providers should be “instructed and enabled to allow for leases to be terminated without incurring fees or penalties and full refunds to be issued to those who request them. If this means emergency
Menlo Park among the private student letting facilities offering refunds. Photo: Dream Ireland
legislation, then this is what must be do.” funds for three amazing charities. Over the next six months this event will help our students and staff to feel part of the NUIG community, have fun and keep active while fundraising.”
NUI Galway Students’ Union has had long established partnerships with various charities within Galway City and wider area community to give back to those in need.
A spokesperson for Galway Autism Partnership discussed this partnership in line with the new fundraising endeavour, saying, “NUIG students have been volunteering with GAP for nearly a decade; now they will directly support the autistic children and adults of Galway city and county through their fundraising.’’
If you are interested in taking part in the Charity Challenge you can find the relevant information available and sign up through any of NUI Galway Students’ Union online platforms, such as on their Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.
You can also go directly to their website su.nuiglway.ie or for more information on the Charity Challenge you can email studentsunion@nuigalway.ie
