[…]2022, USI would welcome a €1,000 reduction to the fee in this year’s Budget, as reported in today’s media. USI President, Clare Austick said: “We know that Minister Harris has agreed with us that the Student Contribution fee, which is currently the highest in the EU, is too high and that it prevents many people from accessing higher education and that that needs to change. USI will continue to campaign for the end of fees, but in the meantime the reduction would be very welcome for students, many of whom are struggling with financial hardship. The reports this morning are […]
[…]to students or others. With the ability to make €14,000 on offer, there should be some basic rules and requirements, to stop people being evicted or having their rent increased without any notice or discussion. Digs should also be brought into the scope of Rent Pressure Zone Legislation, which USI worked on in the past. The survey showed that respondents are paying an average of €660 across the country to live in digs, with just 43 per cent of them having use of the room for the full seven days a week – this shows that digs is not a […]
[…]confide in you about their self-harm, you can start to help them immediately. First, honour their trust in you by showing them kindness, love and compassion. Second, help them get the support they need. Share info and supports with them and encourage them to make an appointment with their GP and to reach out to Pieta House themselves. You can also support them if necessary by asking their permission to contact Pieta House on their behalf, and reassure the person that you’ll come with them for their appointment, even if they’re over 18.” Pieta House can help you talk through […]
[…]push the best and brightest to emigrate. USI fears graduates would be pushed out of the housing market as evidence from New Zealand shows that 51% of banks that received applications from clients with student debt had indicated that student loans were the contributing factor in rejecting finance – with 34% of those likely to be rejected being mortgages. USI is campaigning for the Government to rule out any possible introduction of an income contingent loan scheme in Budget 2018, and to reduce the Student Contribution Charge by a minimum of €250. The union is also calling for an increase […]
A video released on an Irish student-focused website today entitled ‘Don’t you just hate Mature Students…’ has been dismissed by the Union of Students in Ireland as an attack on diversity inside the student movement. The short features a portrayal of a group of younger students trying and failing to tolerate the presence of a mature student in their midst. It is believed the video was intended to be a comedy. Speaking after watching the video, Kevin Donoghue, USI Deputy President said: “This mean-spirited and deeply unfunny video portrays a systematic attempt to exclude a person from the group merely […]