College party clampdown ramps up

Students in UCC who engage in antisocial behaviour could have their landlord contacted by the college, according to radical new plans being explored.

The plans, which were revealed at a community forum this week, are part of new attempts to clamp down on late-night partying by college students living in neighbouring areas.

Speaking at the South-Central Community Forum at Nano Nagle Place, Gary Mulcahy, Student Residential Services and Community Relations Officer in UCC, said his idea would be, that if a property whose students are being dealt with for breaching of rules, and it is a “realistic complaint,” the landlord could be informed.

“We don’t have the power to sanction landlords, we’re about the students. It’s about informing them about the problems,” he said.

Mr Mulcahy said he was awaiting clarification on whether GDPR and other possible issues would prevent the measure from being implemented.

“Our primary concern is everyone’s safety, both the students and the local community, and that the students don’t interrupt the everyday lives of everyone else,” he added.

John O’Rourke from the Connaught Avenue Residents’ Association, who also chairs the South-Central Community Forum, said the majority of landlords in the area were very active in solving issues with their tenants.

“There are a number of landlords, however, who are only interested in the money and not doing enough to keep an eye on what’s going on in their property. We need them to do more to cooperate when situations arise where their tenants are disrupting the community.

“It is something that can be worked out through better cooperation between students, the college, residents, gardaí and particularly the landlords themselves.”