Maynooth University students are worried about not getting their degrees this year as a lack of parking on campus has made lectures inaccessible for most.
Dublin Live previously spoke to students who had been getting clamped and missing lectures due to the lack of spaces. The situation remains the same, with students now worried that their entire academic year will be tarnished by the problems.
The nearby train station was jam packed this morning with students trying to find cheap and alternative ways of making it to classes on time. On 7 October, over 1,000 Maynooth students staged an organised lecture walk-out after plans for a new student centre were scrapped.
Read more: Students missing lectures and getting clamped due to lack of parking in Maynooth University
One final year student told Dublin Live that she is worried the lack of parking will stop her getting the degree she wants.
She said: "The lack of parking has affected me immensely due to being a commuter and not being able to find a space on campus. I'm really frustrated by the inadequate facilities after purchasing a permit.
"I am horrified by this and extremely apprehensive about the rest of the academic year as I am a final year student. I never had this issue previously as there wasn't a huge amount of students on campus over the last two years. I thought the university would have planned for this and I am wondering where the new car park is that was meant to open in a few weeks.
"I've to walk ages in the rain and waste so much time, effort and money with the current cost of fuel driving aimlessly around for hours looking for an available parking space. I cannot afford this and there is the possibility of missing out on some of my education as a result. I am a huge worrier and panic having to leave ridiculously early tying to find a space on campus when I could be using that time to study."
Another student named Sean paid a pricey fine trying to hand in an assignment on time. He explained to Dublin Live that he simply does not have this money to give.
He said: "I received two fines- one from the gardai and another from Kildare County Council. I parked on the Kilcock Road between the North and South campuses.
"The only reason I parked here is because there were no spaces in any car park including the overflow and I had to be on time for a lecture to hand in an assignment. Being a full time students means I don't have the means to pay the €80 fines.
One student said that if she cannot get to campus before 10am, she simply has to give up for the day.
Sophie said: "I have to be on campus three hours before my lectures begin to get a parking space. Over my years in Maynooth I have struggled to get parking. This is not new.
"I have missed lectures. I have ran from one campus to another to make my lectures after finally getting a space. I would never come to campus after 10am as I know there'd be no hope in getting parking at all.
"Many of my friends this year are commuting from Donegal which means they have to drive for 3-4 hours and may not be guaranteed a parking space. I have so much empathy for those students who applied on the CAO this year to attend Maynooth when this is the university they arrived to."
Ronan O'Donnell started an online petition highlighting the parking problems facing students. He is shocked by the mental toll the clamping has had on students, with many now worrying about passing final year exams.
He said: "The whole thing is a disgrace. The university at the moment is in a complete shambles. They cannot support their students. It's just ridiculous. I don't even drive but I started this petition because all of my friends were getting clamped.
"It sickens you. Something has to be done. There are only so many final year lectures you can miss until everything becomes too much?"
Maynooth Univeristy said: "Maynooth University monitors parking spaces daily, and while we accept that parking may not be available at all times where drivers may wish to park, our surveys have found approx. 200 spaces are available at any given time in our two overflow car parks close to campus. We are currently building a new car park on campus, which is due for completion in the coming weeks."
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