[…]year ahead, focusing on repealing the eight; LGBT rights; reducing the registration fee of €3,000; fighting any proposals for loan schemes; finding solutions to the student accommodation crisis; and increasing student support.” Hoey studied Women’s Studies in UCC and was the USI Deputy President for the 2015/2016 term and the USI Vice President for Equality and Citizenship for the 2014/2015 and the 2015/2016 terms. Annie Hoey spoke about the campaigns she worked on and how this experience will inspire her in the future – “I have worked on major national campaigns during my time at USI, such as the marriage […]
[…]movement have voted unanimously to support these campaigns focused on campus owned student accommodation in Ireland. A Rent Strike involves withholding rent in a form of protest of the cost of student accommodation, with the objective of a reduction of rent from on campus accommodation providers. Collective action and Rent Strikes have proven extremely effective thus far, victories include a £1.2 million rent cut at UK based colleges UCL and a 35% backdated rent cut at Goldsmiths, UK. USI Vice President for Campaigns, Michelle Byrne said: “I’m delighted to see unanimous support from SUs around the country. Supporting grassroots […]
[…]With roughly 1350 participants, the overall cost of the grant was in the region of €860,000 per annum. In May 2012, a Gaeltacht Placement Working Group report to the Teaching Council warned that the withdrawal of government funding for student teacher placement was “a matter of serious concern and may deter persons from disadvantaged socio-economic backgrounds from enrolling on programmes of initial teacher education”. In September 2014 the Minister for Education acknowledged “that the funding of the Gaeltacht Placement is a significant cost to students and their families” and estimated the cost of restoring the grant for the extended four-week placement […]
The Union of Students in Ireland has welcomed the positive impact of gender quotas in the 2016 General Election and said it has achieved progress in gender balance in politics. The number of female TDs has increased dramatically since 2011 by 47% and USI said using gender quotas is the fastest way to achieve gender balance in politics. “The new 32nd Dáil has the highest ever number of female TDs – 22%, up from 15%, an increase of 47%.” Kevin Donoghue, USI President, said, “But it also means that almost 4 in 5 politicians are still male. While there […]