Sarah looked for accommodation early in the summer and had great difficulty locating anything affordable. Since starting as welfare officer, she's seen a steady stream of frustrated students.

"Accommodation is a big problem in Dublin. The union would recommend that the Dublin area should have an index-linked grant, like in London. Dublin is the most expensive city in Europe." Student grants pay little more than the rent, she said. As a result, students are forced to work more and devote less time to their studies.