Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan criticised the current lack of student accommodation in the county

Sligo-Leitrim TD Frank Feighan criticised the current lack of student accommodation in the county and criticised developers who changed the use of previously designated privately run student accommodation to house refugees.

He was speaking at the Joint Committee on Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science debate this week.

He stated: "What happened with Milligan Court and Benbulben Court in Sligo was an absolute disgrace. The developer put the two fingers up to the local authority and to the ATU students, and got away with it despite every effort from a legal point of view and from a planning point of view. That should never be allowed to happen again. I pay tribute to the students union in ATU in Sligo whose campaign for the rent-a-room scheme has helped."

He was speaking after it was revealed that some third-level students are flying from Donegal to Dublin to attend university lectures amid an accommodation crisis according to Bryan O'Mahony, president of Aontas na Mac Léinn in Éirinn (AMLÉ), formerly the Union of Students in Ireland, who spoke to RTÉ ahead of the debate.

He was one of a number of student representatives from around the country who spoke on the day about the dire need for accommodation as well as the rising cost of living.

Mr Feighan continued that he was "probably the only non-academic on this committee" and spoke of attending school in Boyle, County Roscommon and recently attending the 45th school reunion.

He said: "Out of 60 people who left that school, three or four went to university. One went to Trinity, and we were absolutely delighted. We have come an awful long way in 45 years."

He added: "At the time anybody who got into university was very privileged and probably came from the professional class as a doctor's or lawyer's son, or was absolutely brilliant. We are in a much better place than when I was younger. At the time, people either went to university, went to the regional technical colleges of which Sligo was one, got a job in the public service, worked on the land, worked in a business or emigrated, and most people emigrated. I am really thankful to have normal, confident and intelligent people like the witnesses representing the future of our country."

Referring to the need for student accommodation, he said that an extra "500 or 600 rooms" were needed and "I want good-quality accommodation which will help the housing crisis in towns like Sligo, Letterkenny and Athlone."

He added: "I thank the witnesses for giving their views today. They spoke about the end of the two-tier funding system. That is absolutely critical. The problem has built up over 20 or 30 years. I will not call it discrimination but, let us be honest, in third level education there is snobbery. The "Ivy League" colleges around the country, south of the Dublin-to-Galway line, still look at ATU Sligo as if it is not good enough."

He stressed: "I think legislation to protect digs and safeguard existing student housing is very important."

He concluded: "However, I am very proud of the ATU in Sligo, Letterkenny and the north west, the first university north of the Dublin-to-Galway line. You never know, when I get out of politics, I might even do an adult education course.

The Cathaoirleach commented to Mr Feighan: "I learned just as much outside university as I did inside. It is a great thing and Deputy Feighan should definitely take an opportunity to take part in student life, maybe when he finishes political life" to which he replied, "I might".