NUACHTÁN SAOR IN AISCE VOL. 20 Issue 10. 26 FEB 2019
Student Independent News
USI condemns delay in enacting legislation affording more tenant rights to students By Áine Kenny On Wednesday 20 February, the Union of Students in Ireland Vice President Michelle Byrne and NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President Megan Reilly spoke in the Oireachtas about the Residential Tenancies (Greater Security of Tenure & Rent Certainty) Bill 2018. The two Presidents were dismayed to see the delay in enacting the legislation, which would afford more rights to students living in purpose build student accommodation (PBSA). Currently, students living in these complexes are deemed ‘licensees’ and not tenants, and therefore have fewer rights. Rent pressure zone legislation, which caps rent increases at four percent per year, currently does not apply to student accommodations. This bill seeks to change this. Speaking in the Oireachtas, NUI Galway’s Students’ Union President Megan Reilly said: “We have a student population of over 18,000 and our students have been affected badly by issues particularly around rent certainty and security of tenure.” “These bills address some of the issues that stu-
dents have been facing, but really just scratch the surface of what’s going on.” “Students cannot afford extortionate deposits of two month’s rent upfront.” “Not only are these issues frustrating and upsetting students, they are affecting their access to education.” Reilly also commented on the specific case of Cuirt na Coiribe in Galway, which made headlines last year for increasing their rent by €1000. “In the SU we came out strongly against the increase, and as well as protesting, we took a case against the accommodation provider with the Residential Tenancies Board, and this is how we learned about the four percent rent pressure zones not extending to purpose built student accommodation, and the difficulties with residents in PBSA being classified as a license instead of a tenancy, and the lack of rights that are afforded to students because of this.” “In our case, even though it was called a license agreement, the adjudication treated it as a tenancy.” “However, we have learned from Threshold that a similar case in Cork was treated as a licensee agreement, showing the lack of clarity around how
these cases should be treated, and the anti eviction bill will go a ways towards clearing this up.” “[Our case] unfortunately failed on a technicality, but it was then we started lobbying for the caps to be extended to PBSA.” Speaking to SIN afterwards, President Reilly said there had been a private session about the bill two weeks ago, and that a TD had raised a concern that nothing had been done since this. “We were told it should be going through in April, that’s our hope. We need to get it through now before the summer session is out as nothing will be done until next year then,” Reilly said. Michelle Byrne, Vice President of the USI, outlined the massive need for affordable student accommodation. “On the night of the census in 2016, there were 429 homeless students in Ireland, making up over eight percent of the total homeless numbers.” “When the Government’s student accommodation strategy was launched in July 2017, there was an excess demand in purpose built student accommodation of over 23,000 beds.” “This is expected to increase to almost 26,000 this year. This means we are still 16,000 beds short
even if all PBSA which is projected is successfully completed,” she explained. The USI are calling for the Residential Tenancies (Greater Security of Tenure & Rent Certainty) Bill 2018 to be passed urgently, as currently students living in purpose-built student accommodations are facing rent increases of 10-20 percent. In University College Cork’s Victoria Mills accommodation complex, rent has increased by €900 (10 percent) in two years. In the academic year 2016/17, students paid €5,260 for a single bedroom. In 2019/2020, students will pay €6,179 for that same room. In NUI Galway, the 140 bed Menlo Park private student accommodation prices have increased by 20 percent. That is a rise of €1,390 for a single bedroom in student accommodation. John-Mark McCafferty, CEO of Threshold housing charity, who also attended the session said: “Threshold has long recognised that students are increasingly vulnerable in the private rented sector.” “Many students renting are effectively ‘licensees’, rather than tenants. In other words they are living in legal limbo, without the protections of a tenancy and without recourse to the Residential Tenancies Board.”
NUI Galway choir to compete on world stage By Martha Brennan NUI Galway’s renowned male voice choir, the Testostertones, have been selected to compete at a prestigious international festival. The Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod in Wales is one of the world’s most famous festivals of music, dance and culture, and includes competitions showcasing choirs and dance troupes from across the globe. Each year it attracts over 4,000 performers and as many as 50,000 visitors across the week. Established in 1947, the International Eisteddfod promotes peace
and goodwill between nations by bringing performers from all cultures and nations together through music. Competitors at the festival are world renowned, such as Luciano Pavarotti, one of the most successful tenors of all time. This year’s festival will take place from 1-7 of July. The Testostertones will join international competitors from all over the world, and they will perform a number of songs, including folk songs from the West of Ireland, in both Irish and English. “This is a wonderful experience for the singers,” Choir Director and NUI Galway graduate, Peter Mannion says. “Performing at one of the world’s great music festivals will be a highlight for both the singers and their families. Representing NUI Galway and Ireland at the festival is an honour for the group and we will be performing a repertoire to showcase choral music from Ireland, along with some music
from the greatest ever composers.” The Testostertones won the National Male Choir Competition title last year at Cork International Choral Festival. They were the first college-based choir to ever win the title, and have also won competitions at every major Irish choral festival. Now in its sixteenth year, the choir was formed in 2003 by Peter Mannion and currently consists of students, alumni and staff members of NUI Galway. The aim of the Testostertones is to give male singers an opportunity to enhance their skills and the group performs a mix of acapella and barbershop music. Over time, the ensemble has become one of the most innovative choral groups in Ireland. The group is constantly on the lookout for fresh new talent. If you would like to become part of the Testostertones, you can get in contact by emailing nuigttones@gmail.com.