[…]of focussing on their exams and assignments. USI President Lorna Fitzpatrick spoke on this: “Today we are highlighting the fact that while the festive period is an expensive time for most, students are being put in debt every month of the year in order to pay for their education. We have seen little to no accountability being held by landlords and private developers for the prices they are charging for student accommodation and no reduction to the student contribution fee whatsoever. It is time that the Government put serious plans in place to create an affordable education system for all, […]
Union of Students in Ireland (USI) today called on Senators to support a Labour private members motion this Wednesday, rejecting any move to implement an income-contingent loan scheme but instead to publicly invest in third level education. In advance of the debate, USI President Michael Kerrigan said, “A decision to go ahead with an income-contingent loan scheme will increase emigration and sends a clear message to our future students: take your €20,000 debt, your degree, and get out. Ireland currently charges the 2nd highest higher education fees in Europe after the UK, and we’ve seen in the UK that the […]
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) today stated concern with the failure of a Labour private members motion in the Seanad on Wednesday 12th July, to reject any move to implement an income-contingent loan scheme but instead to publicly invest in third level education. The amendment from Government instead called that no decision be made until the Joint Committee on Education and Skills had published their recommendations. Speaking after the vote, USI President Michael Kerrigan commented, “Not all of our Senators were brave enough to make the ambitious decision and reject an income contingent loan scheme, despite the […]
[…]of the action, USI President Michael Kerrigan, said: “The situation in direct provision is cruel, and people are stuck there for up to 7 years. People can’t work, people get just over €20 a week, and people have little to no access to fresh fruit, no access to self-catering or ethnic foods. People trapped in direct provision just have access to meals with chips almost every second day with a menu that only changes every fortnight. This will be one of the biggest shame’s on the Irish state since the Magdelene Laundries.” “Aramark is a US owned company which provides […]
