NUI Galway students intend to hold a second day of demonstrations today to protest at new car- parking arrangements at the Galway city campus.
Members of the students' union occupied staff parking allotments yesterday and have advised all students to bring their cars in to college today. The students plan to hold a demonstration at noon outside the tennis courts car-park in the campus.
The union said it has exhausted "every possible means of negotiation with" university management over the new system, where 860 on-campus car-parking spaces have been allocated to more than 1,000 staff, and 140 to some 14,000 students.
The students say that 86 per cent of the car-parking spaces are reserved for about 10 per cent of the university's population. "We believe that this system is grossly unfair and inequitable," the union said.
NUI Galway said the system, which was introduced yesterday, had to make maximum use of limited space on campus. Three areas for pay-and-display parking had also been allowed for. Clamping was introduced in the university last year, it said.
"We would like to encourage those living within walking distance of the university, both staff and students, to consider walking rather than driving to the campus," said Prof Jim Ward.