Ireland’s potential English language students are being turned away due to the accommodation shortage, according to The Irish Times.
The situation has been exacerbated by Brexit, which means that overseas students who might have previously headed to the UK for their English studies must now apply for a visa, which is putting many off. So, instead, these students are looking to study Ireland.
Foreign students are worth approximately €130 million a year to the Irish economy, putting money in the pockets of sectors as diverse as taxi drivers through to hospitality, retail and nightlife, along with many more. However, accommodation has not expanded to keep up with the extra number of students, so schools are having to turn potential students away.
Rhys Fitzpatrick, from the Galway English Academy, was quoted as saying, “The Government isn’t doing enough to help the sector accommodation wise. Students just can’t get accommodation in Galway centre and they are having to look further out in the county. A couple of students were quoted €2,800 for a three-bedroom house in Knocknacarra, which is five kilometres from the centre. Even hostels are becoming too expensive.”
