Trinity Sport – which has closed down due to level-five restrictions – will freeze monthly payments and extend annual memberships and locker rentals for external patrons but not students.
College will not be refunding students for the sports centre charge despite the closing of facilities as the country goes into level-five restrictions at midnight. Waivers may be granted, however, for students who are facing “financial hardship”.
According to Trinity Sport, the students’ sports centre fee is classified as “a development charge” rather than a membership fee and therefore refunds will not be given.
In a statement on their updated frequently asked questions page, Trinity Sport explained: “The sports levy is a development charge, it is not a membership or access charge to the Trinity Sports Centre. As per the sport charge student referendum agreement, the only waivers are for students of financial hardship, refunds therefore do not apply unless specifically related to financial hardship and approved via the Senior Tutors office.”
This year students were required to pay a sports charge of €122, an increase of €2 from last year. The Finance Committee and Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) approved the increase in 2019.
The fee was included in the Student Levies and Charges (SLC) which all students were required to pay upon registering for College. The SLC also included an €8 levy for The Union of Students in Ireland (USI), a €30 space levy and a quarter installment of a €135 graduation charge.
The single consolidated rate replaced the more transparent invoice in which the different student levies and charges were broken down separately. The consolidated rate was proposed and agreed upon at a Finance Committee meeting in June, 2018. It was supported by former Vice-Provost Chris Morash, former Dean of Students Kevin O’Kelly and the Financial Services Division.
Support of the presidents of TCDSU and Graduate Students’ Union was also obtained prior to the meeting.
The Sports Centre was Trinity’s main casualty in the government’s new level-five restrictions announced yesterday, with the rest of College remaining largely unaffected.
As has previously been the case, all learning that can take place online will do so, while classes that must take place in person – including lab and practical classes, clinical skills classes and creative practice – will continue to take place face to face.
Clinical and professional placements will also remain in person, as well as lab-based capstone projects.
The library will also remain open as it has been, although with some reductions.
Students in College accommodation will not be asked to return home, and requests to leave College accommodation will be dealt with on a case-by-case basis.
