Grants to third-level students should be doubled to take account of increased rents, the National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI) has said.
The organisation said rent increases were not being matched by increases in grant levels.
"In 1998 alone, rents in Dublin rose by 24 per cent, by 17 per cent in Leinster and Munster and 12.5 per cent in Connacht," the NYCI president, Ms Jillian Hassett, said.
She said to deal with this reality those on low pay should be allowed to claim rent allowance through the supplementary welfare allowance scheme.
Ms Hassett also suggested the tax-free allowance available for rent payments be increased to £2,500 per annum.
