The Union of Students in Ireland has today published two documents outlining the union’s priorities for the new Government and what students need for the new academic year in light of the COVID-19 pandemic. USI President, Lorna Fitzpatrick and Vice President for Academic Affairs, Kevin McStravock met with the new Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris last Thursday afternoon and presented him with the priority document and outlined the union’s views on areas in need of attention, change or added resources. Considering the profound impact of COVID-19 on the education sector, some of that […]
[…]a massive planned voter registration drive. 50,000 student voters will be registered this year, joining 120,000+ students already on the electoral register. These voters will be connected directly with their local politicians through a high-tech database management and communication tool. USI’s National Campaign, ‘Fight For Your Future Now’, was also launched this week, which will see students right across the country display vigorous opposition to any attempts to further target third-level student supports by the Government. “Students and families are already at breaking point, and the cost of college continues to increase. This week, an ILCU survey showed that 84% […]
[…]are taking place today to protest against any potential cuts to the maintenance grant in the upcoming October Budget 2014. The march will begin in Sligo IT and finish in Stephen Street Car Park where DJ Scruffy Duffy will be playing on arrival and speeches will be delivered to masses of students. Students from NUIG, GMIT, Letterkenny IT, St Angelas College, Athlone IT, Sligo IT and DKIT will gather at at 1.30pm and march together to Stephen Street Car Park to express their collective voice on the upcoming Budget 2014. The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) warned the Government […]
[…]to address the infrastructure needs of higher education sector, and an increase in National Training Fund levy to add €47.5m of additional investment next year. However, the union is raising concerns over any meaningful investment in improving access to education through increasing SUSI grant thresholds, or improving on-campus mental health services, declaring Budget 2018 as ‘leaving students behind’. Speaking outside the Dáil, USI President Michael Kerrigan said, ‘No income-contingent student loans were announced today, but neither was any meaningful new funding model on how third-level education should be funded. A €250 decrease in fee level would come at a relatively […]
[…]increase in the student contribution charge, have only served to disincentivise our youth from attaining a third level education. Today’s statistics are the result of these cuts. USI President John Logue said: “Young people are not looking for an easy way out of the employment crisis. They realise they will have to work harder than before with less to show for it. However, every crisis has a tipping point and ours is the growing sense of despair among young people in Ireland- a lack of confidence and pride not seen since the 1980’s. If we don’t act quickly and decisively to […]
