SETU students stage walkout protest over lack of government funding

Students across the SETU campuses walked out of lectures at 11:30am on Thursday, October 17, to protest the government's lack of support for universities and the failure to address the student accommodation crisis. At the protest, students explained how national policy was affecting them directly.

"Thank God I had my car, I had to sleep in it for the first month," said second-year construction management student Dean Horgan, who slept in his vehicle for the first month of first year. 

He had come to Waterford from Midleton after unknowingly making agreements with unregistered landlords. 

"When I came down here to get into my accommodation there was nothing for me here." 

Like many students, Dean entered into unideal housing arrangements just to be able to attend SETU. It was this experience that made him decide to join the protest.

The protest at South East Technical University's Cork Road campus was part of the 'National Student Walkout' organised in conjunction with the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The national movement aimed "to highlight the anger and frustration students are feeling at the complete lack of measures in Budget 2025 to support them, and to remind TDs and candidates of the power of the student voice ahead of the upcoming general election."

The national student body is demanding that the government; immediately call an election, increase the minimum wage to a living wage, abolish the Student Contribution Charge, build affordable student accommodation and increase funding to higher-level education institutions.

SETU Students' Union thanked its members for "showing up and voicing your frustration to the government. The aim of this walkout today was to call on the government to hear students' voices and recognise that students are not cash cows. Enough is enough."

USI representative in the south, Niamh Kennedy, said that the government has "consistently failed students while it has been in power."

The recent budget, she said, did include some measures to help students, such as the temporary reduction to the student contribution charge, but said these measures did not go far enough. 

"A temporary €1,000 fee reduction is just not enough."

Second-year arts student Seraigha Ni Bhriain, 24, walked out of class to join the protest. She is calling on the government to increase the funding for affordable student accommodation after the rental prices forced her to commute long-distance during her first year at SETU. 

"I was commuting last year and it was really difficult because you lose so much of the social aspect of college. I was exhausted all the time."

She said that the restrictions commuting put on her college experience made it difficult to make friends - having to leave college early to get the last bus home stopped her from attending society events. She found unreliable public transport to be a liability. 

"If your bus is late you could end up missing classes or presentations. You could possibly miss an exam that goes towards your final grade."

This year, Seraigha was able to find accommodation in Waterford City but finds the high cost of rent difficult despite working part-time alongside her studies. 

"I think [the housing crisis] needs to be fixed, either with more funding for students or making more accommodation available. We need more support from the government to keep people in education."