The protest is being called the Shanowen Shakedown.
A number of DCU students protested outside the Dáil on Tuesday following an increase in the price of student accommodation.
It emerged in recent weeks that one of the most important and necessary areas of accommodation for DCU students, Shanowen, would be increasing its prices by 27%.
Students were informed that Shanowen would reportedly be charging €10,000 for a nine-month lease for students who wished to reside there while attending DCU.
On top of the fees that some students in the university pay, this financial increase from Shanowen, students say, would prove too much for some students and would render it impossible for them to attend the college.
Students of the college, and supporters of the cause have now taken their protest to the Dáil.
Speaking to JOE, the DCU Student Union President Niall Behan had this to say about the importance of today’s protest: “Today was about bringing our protest to a national forum. The only way to ensure students are protected in the long term is for these accommodation providers to be under the same legislation as any other landlords.
“Students cannot be exploited any longer, as education is becoming unaffordable except for those who can pay extremely high rents. We need intervention as the market cannot police itself.”
A representative from People Before Profit offered their support, and the message below was posted to their Twitter page.
Supporting #ShanowenShakedown outside the Dail today. The shocking proposed increases in rents is disgraceful and we will stand with the students in opposing these outrageous increases. @RBoydBarrett will bring up Dcu protest with Varadkar in #Dail today pic.twitter.com/2tHnRUvn3m
— People Before Profit (@pb4p) April 17, 2018
Mary Mitchell O’Connor, the Minister of State for Higher Education, also addressed the crowd at the protest.
Today we protested outside the Dáil. Today our voices were heard. #ShanowenShakedown pic.twitter.com/dpuKC8R01v
— DCU Students' Union (@DCUSU) April 17, 2018
Shanowen have yet to make an official statement on the matter.
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