The Union of Student in Ireland (USI) has welcomed the presence of a new Deposit Retention Scheme in the new Programme for Government.

Approximately half of cases brought to Private Residential Tenancies Board (PRTB) relate to deposit retention and can take up to a year to be processed.

In more than 75% of cases some or all of the money is ordered to be returned to the tenants.

The introduction of this new Deposit Retention Scheme will significantly reduce the number of disputes between landlords and tenants.

Only 9% of students can get purpose built student accommodation, which means that the majority of students live in private rented accommodation.

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USI has campaigned extensively for the introduction of a Deposit Retention Scheme in recent years and is delighted that the scheme will now become a reality.

USI Welfare Officer, Rebecca Murphy, said: "USI has welcomed this new Deposit Retention Scheme, as it will cut down on the high numbers of students, who encounter difficulties in recovering their deposit from their landlords.

"In research carried out by USI, over 40% of students have had issues regarding deposit retention – a deposit retention scheme would mean that student money is kept safe and will result in less trouble for both landlords and tenants."

She continued: "Delays in the return of deposits can cause untold misery and financial hardship for students, especially those on low incomes and from low-income families who may be depending on the return of the deposit to save for their new accommodation's deposit.

"Losing the deposit can mean that money needed for food, bills, books and other college expenses must be redirected into the new accommodation, resulting in a lowering of quality of life for these students."

(GK)