[…]registration fee has resulted in Ireland having one of the most expensive third level systems in the world. The registration charge has increased by 275 per cent since 2008. What have we got to show for it? Falling university rankings, facilities which are not fit for purpose. Something has to change. A student loan scheme will mean the student contribution fee will increase to a minimum of €5,000. I say minimum of €5,000 because in every country that has implemented loan schemes, it always followed with a further rise in fees. In 1998, the UK implemented loan schemes at £1,000 per […]
[…]‘once-off’ €1,000 reduction is of course welcome, students are left not knowing where they stand for the future. And the reduction comes too late for students who have already deferred their places in college this year because they could not afford the costs. USI President, Beth O’Reilly said: “Today’s Budget was a missed opportunity to permanently reduce the Student Contribution Charge and start the move towards abolishing fees. In our Pre-Budget submission, USI called for a permanent €1,000 reduction in fees. In these expensive times, this ‘once-off’ reduction will be quickly spent on high rents and soaring costs-of-living. “Through this […]
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) welcomed the report launched today by the Joint Oireachtas Committee on the Eighth Amendment with recommendation to repeal the Eighth Amendment from the Irish Constitution. Speaking at the launch, USI President Michael Kerrigan said, “Today is a historic day. We have seen cross party support and consensus for an issue that has shamed women for decades. The report launched today is the first step in the right direction, and we call on the Oireachtas to do their homework on the topic before it goes to debate and discussion in 2018. “We echo Chair […]
[…]the past two years and is a UCC (University College Cork) alumnus. There were four candidates in the running for the position, three of which are current members of USI Officer Board. The candidates were Laura Harmon USI VP Equality and Citizenship, Denise McCarthy USI Deputy President and USI VP for Welfare, Kevin Donoghue USI VP for BMW Region and Stephen Fleming, a student from St Patrick’s College, Maynooth Students’ Union. The results for the rest of the USI Officer Board 2014/15 positions are as follows; · Leas Uachtarán Gaeilge/USI VP for Irish Language Feidhlim Seoighe · USI VP BMW […]
[…]according to new data released today by the Union of Students in Ireland and Smartvote.ie. The new Election tool has been causing a political engagement storm across the country and has been labelled ‘The Tinder of Politics’. USI is encouraging young people to download and use the app to find out which candidates best match their political views. “There is no such thing as a civil war vote anymore,” Kevin Donoghue, USI President said, “We’re seeing an increase in a personal, informed vote across Ireland with Smartvote because it makes deciding who to vote for simple, easy and fast. It […]
