Wexford student faces accommodation struggle ahead of first year in Maynooth

A Wexford student says she is facing “absolute mayhem” trying to find somewhere to live ahead of starting her first year in Maynooth.Ella has accepted her CAO offer but says securing accommodation has proved far more difficult than getting her college place.

She says she has sent more than 40 enquiries about rooms but has received just four responses.

“It’s manic. I don’t have the words to describe it.”

Ella says some accommodation listings can receive hundreds of messages, leaving students struggling to even get a response from landlords.She says the cost of accommodation is also a major concern, with a single room in a small property costing between €900 and €1,000 a month.

Ella, who is from Wexford, says the distance is making the search even more difficult.She is around two-and-a-half hours from Maynooth, while her parents are working full-time, making it difficult to travel up to view potential accommodation.

She says she has been searching across Facebook groups and student accommodation sites, while also putting her name on waiting lists for purpose-built student accommodation.But she says many of those spaces have already been taken by students who are returning for their second or third year.

Maynooth University says demand for accommodation is exceeding supply, with students being advised to look off-campus.The situation means some students could face long commutes, increased costs, or even having to reconsider where they study.

Ella also says she is concerned about scams when searching for accommodation online.She claims attempts to get help from the university have resulted in links to accommodation websites rather than practical assistance in finding somewhere to live.

She says the situation is putting significant pressure on her family as the start of the college year approaches.

“All we’re talking about is accommodation.”

Ella says she will continue contacting landlords and accommodation providers in the hope of securing somewhere to live.She says getting her college place was “a breeze compared to this.”