Third level students in Ireland are struggling to find accommodation because of the increase in rents and a shortage of supply, according to Fianna Fáil.

Spokesperson on Education Charlie McConalogue has hit out at Minister Jan O'Sullivan's failure to tackle the accommodation crisis.

He said: "College residences make up only 11% of total student accommodation in this country, with the remainder of students left to find a place to stay in the private rental sector, which is already oversubscribed.

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"Many students are spending their summers scrambling for accommodation before being squeezed out of the market through bidding wars. Year on year, the situation has deteriorated, yet the Minister has failed to introduce measures to help these students.

"While Minister O'Sullivan commissions reports on the issue, students are becoming increasingly desperate about how and where they will find accommodation and how they will be able to afford to pay for it given the massive hikes in rents over the past three years.

"The Government's response has been absolutely pathetic and is putting intolerable pressure on students and their families. The Minister has failed to outline any measures she will be taking to address this escalating crisis."

(CD/JP)