Over 11,000 people have signed a petition calling on the government to provide more affordable student accommodation.
It was set up after a privately-owned complex near Dublin City University increased its rent prices by up to 27% for the next academic year.
Shanowen Square plans to charge €8,695 for a student to live there from September this year, until May of 2019 as first reported by the college's student newspaper The College View.
It has sparked the a huge reaction, which resulted in the DCU Student's Union issuing an open letter to accommodation complexes Shanowen Square, Shanowen Hall and Gateway Student Village.
An open letter from DCU Students Union to all off-campus accommodation including Shanowen Square, Shanowen Hall and Gateway Student Village on behalf of all the students in Dublin City University. pic.twitter.com/sBkyCVow9w
— DCU Students' Union (@DCUSU) March 26, 2018
The letter sparked a reaction from one of the companies named, Gateway, which claimed it was an example of misinformation.
They claimed they had received 'angry calls' from students and parents, thinking they were raising their prices by 27%
The complex in Ballymun was listed in the letter after the price of a standard room went up €1,000 from €6,980 to €7,980 - an increase of 14%.
Both parties met on the issue last night, with what appeared to be an amicable conclusion.
Following on from a positive meeting with @DCUSU, Gateway Student Village would like to outline the following. @BehanNiall @PadraigHenry pic.twitter.com/ETWnrBiiBk
— Gateway Student Village ðŸ¡ðŸ¡ðŸ¡ðŸ‡®ðŸ‡ªðŸ‡ªðŸ‡º (@GStudentVillage) March 27, 2018
The controversy has led to comments from the political sphere, with Labour's education spokesman Senator Aodhan O Riordain accusing the companies of 'exploiting' the current housing crisis 'to charge extortionate accommodation fees'.
He added: "We’ve heard many good news stories in the last week about making DCU more accessible, with it becoming the world’s first autism friendly campus, the notion that students who come from outside of Dublin to study there will essentially be priced out takes away from the good work on the university's part to open up the campus."
