[…]for those in receipt of the ‘top-up’ rate of grant (exceptionally low incomes), and for households with multiple children in Higher Education. USI believe an impact assessment study on increasing household charges for students and families within Higher Education is required by the government to aid future decisions. USI President Joe O’Connor said: “There is an ever increasing gap between the cost of college which numerous reports have now shown to be over €10,000 per annum, and declining student supports. Students and their families have been hit hard the past number of years with a number of taxes and cuts, […]
Lazy stereotypes shattered, says USI The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) – which represents 374,000 students across Ireland – welcomed the high youth turnout on the referendum on the Eighth Amendment. USI predicted that turnout would be the largest youth voter turnout in the history of the state. Speaking about the result of the referendum, USI President Michael Kerrigan said: “We directly registered 26,979 new student voters in the lead up to this referendum and we know from our two week roadshow on campuses that students see this as a real issue for them whatever way they vote. We’re […]
[…]four cuts to the maintenance grant in four consecutive budgets, the Government has accepted that struggling students and families can take no more. “Minister Quinn and the Government have listened to students across the country who told them clearly that cuts to the maintenance grant would force students to drop out. “Throughout our campaign we have highlighted the fact that education is a public investment, not public spending. The maintenance grant, meagre as it is, allows those who wouldn’t otherwise have the opportunity to attend third-level, to earn a degree, to have improved career prospects and contribute to our economic […]
[…]by the low price of minimum wage, students need to be given the opportunity to earn a living wage and USI fear that the impact on Brexit will result in inflation on the price of living in Ireland, something that most students are already struggling to afford. The Government have packaged the Education Budget as €153m promised towards Higher Education, but this does very little to address the issues which is affecting the running of institutions. USI President, Lorna Fitzpatrick said: “Education is a pillar of any functioning society. A well educated workforce will lead to a strong economy post […]
[…]Unions have been increasingly approached by student nurses who are worried about their future and are refusing to stay silent. Students across Ireland will be standing in solidarity with the INMO action” Síona Cahill USI President president@usi.ie In 2014, USI held a demonstration of over 700 nursing students for fairer wages and […]
