What the new facility is supposed to look like but progress on converting it has been slow
Dundalk IT Students’ Union have demanded a full refund of the €125 each student paid towards the new DkITSport facility, which was to open last year at the former JJB premises at Dundalk Retail Park.
An emergency class rep meeting was called by the Students’ Union yesterday, with 87 class reps in attendance being told that the latest information from the college was that the facility will not be open until this summer.
At the start of the 2014/2015 academic year in September, each student paid an additional €125 on their college fees towards the former JJB facility, which DkIT were set to convert into a major sports centre.
In exchange for the €125 they would receive full membership to the gym facility.
This was to open in September or October but when it failed to do so DkIT Students’ Union renegotiated that students would receive a refund on a pro-rata basis.
This would mean that if the facility opened in February they would receive €62.50 back. However, after hearing that the facility will now not be open until June, students have demanded that their money be refunded in full, with the levy not coming into place until the facility is fully operational in September.
Students’ Union President Brian Fitzpatrick said: “This year in DkIT the students have grown very frustrated due to many cuts and changes to our vital services.
“We promised the students that we would stick by them throughout this process and ensure that they will be treated fairly. The only fair option now is for a full refund as otherwise there would be a blatant breach of the original plebiscite voted on by the students in 2012.”
The Students’ Union previously blocked plans to build a velodrome in the facility, a venture that was put forward by college representatives in conjunction with Cuchulainn Cycling Club.
