Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) has called on the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) to lobby for the regulation of Airbnb. The motion was submitted at USI’s national student council, which is taking place today.
The motion calls for “the Government to introduce further regulation of this sector in line with that employed in Berlin in order to increase the availability of housing”.
In a statement made by TCDSU President Shane De Rís noted the importance of this motion at a time when there are “3,165 available to let on Airbnb”. It is his belief that “these are houses which could provide families, students, and everyone else with shelter”.
He was critical of Airbnb, and recognised that “the prioritisation of tourists over those in need in Ireland needs to be tackled”. He praised other European cities, such as Berlin and Amsterdam, and said that “it is time Ireland followed suit”.
This comes during the Festival of Direct Action, which has seen Trinity students take part in accommodation demonstrations across the capital. It also comes on the same day when Take Back Trinity, among others have been ordered to vacate a house on Summerhill Parade.
