7 Octoberr 2026
By Elaine Murphy
elaine@TheCork.ie

Politics

Cork Senator Laura Harmon calls for State action on student accommodation and commuting crisis in MTU

Senator Laura Harmon, Labour spokesperson for Further and Higher Education, raised MTU student accommodation at Oireachtas committee today (7.10.26) she said:

“MTU’s Bishopstown campus urgently needs improved transport links and delivery of adequate student housing. While I welcome the proposed
950 beds proposed by MTU in line with the Student Accommodation Strategy, we must ensure they are affordable and delivered with adequate public funding.

“I spoke to MTU President Maggie Cusack in the Oireachtas committee today who shares these concerns. She described the student experience as “very, very poor” as a result of gridlock traffic and long commutes.

Senator Laura Harmon said:
“This Government are pushing people into cars due to lack of housing or reliable public transport. MTU’s park and ride service is effective but should be supported by properly planned public transport to get students across the city.

“Yesterday’s budget provided little relief for students bar a €250 fee decrease that could be counteracted by a rise in the Rent a Roof Relief threshold of €2,000 tax free from €14,000 and €16,000. Landlords, not students, are being supported from these changes.

“The lack of affordable accommodation in MTU Cork is pushing people into cars and creating gridlock traffic. We are locking people out of access to education due to lack of investment in the sector.

“Students commuting have very limited options. Those travelling to college on the 40 bus from Tralee to Cork pay €18.20 return and from Killarney to Cork €17.40 return. The prices on this particular bus have risen 34% in 10 years. These are unacceptable figures to for students to pay on a regular basis simply to access education.

Cllr Ciara O’Connor, Labour Party Councillor for Cork City Southwest, said:

“Students are being priced out of living near their colleges, with consequences for students and entire communities.

“Following a productive meeting on Monday with MTU, Cork City Council, fellow councillors and other stakeholders, it is clear that the lack of affordable student accommodation, combined with inadequate public transport, is contributing significantly to traffic and parking pressures across Bishopstown and surrounding areas.

“Residential streets around MTU, including Kenley, Leesdale, Rossa Avenue and Rossbrook, and the wider community are effectively becoming car parks during college hours, with residents struggling to access their homes and driveways.

“But we cannot blame students for this. Many cannot afford to live close to campus and have little choice but to commute, often by car. This places additional financial pressure on students, affects their college experience and creates unnecessary tensions with local residents.

“Students and residents should not be pitted against one another. Both are paying the price for the failure to deliver affordable student accommodation and adequate public transport infrastructure.

“I welcome MTU’s plans to develop approximately 950 student accommodation beds in Bishopstown, but increasing supply alone is not enough. We must ensure these beds are genuinely affordable, particularly for students from lower-income backgrounds, and examine the affordability and location of privately developed student accommodation across Cork.

“At Monday’s meeting, I also strongly advocated for expanding Park & Ride facilities serving MTU, alongside improved public transport connections, to reduce the number of cars entering already congested residential areas.

“Access to third-level education should never depend on whether a student can afford exorbitant accommodation costs, and local communities should not have to shoulder the consequences of a broken system.

“We need joined-up action from Government, higher education institutions and local authorities that delivers for students while protecting residents’ quality of life.”