[…]public transport for all students, abolish all third-level fees and decriminalise recreational drugs for personal use. With the general election expected to be called any time now, USI launches its manifesto at a media conference in Buswells Hotel, Dublin this morning (Monday, October 14). The policy areas included in the Student Manifesto are: Housing and Transport, Access to Education, Democracy and International Affairs, Student Wellbeing and Inclusion, and the Irish language. USI President, Chris Clifford said: “Ahead of the announcement of Budget 2025, USI outlined how we felt there was a significant opportunity for the Government to finally address the […]
[…]cost of student accommodation currently. USI President, Chris Clifford said: “In their speeches today, both Ministers Chambers and Donohoe talked about the importance of education and young people in our society, and yet they did nothing for third-level students. They seem to think that support for education should stop at secondary school. They talked about wanting to make Ireland the best place in the world to be a child, but between the cost of going to college, the lack of student accommodation and no mention of specific supports for students, it seems like they want to hand young people a […]
[…]but the higher education sector is becoming increasingly exclusionary as financial struggles force some to make the heartbreaking decision to abandon their education altogether. USI is calling on the Government to make provision in Budget 2025 to properly address the student financial crisis and make going to college a realistic aim for every young person in Ireland.” Among the key asks in the USI Pre-Budget 2025 Submission are: Fund the building of the 30,000-bed shortfall in student accommodation Reduce fees by €1,500 now and introduce a plan to abolish fees over the next few years Free public transport for all students Read […]
[…]of the European Students’ Union, and then a year as Secretary General of the European Youth Forum in Brussels. He returned to Dublin in 1998 to work with the Irish National Organisation of the Unemployed, and finally headed home to Mayo where he managed the Ballyhaunis Family Resource Centre before his sudden death on August 17. It was no surprise he travelled so widely. In his spell with USI, it was clear he was a political polyglot, able to speak and understand the many different languages of union leaders across the island. He was equally comfortable debating the potential pitfalls […]
[…]and friends of Stephen Grogan, former President of USI (1989-1990) whose funeral takes place today, Thursday. Stephen from county Mayo, also a former President of GMIT Students’ Union, played an important role in not only the student movement, but also in the battle to legalise abortion in Ireland, and a range of other social issues. Stephen bravely stood up for the right to information during a time when abortion was illegal in Ireland, even being named in a court case by an anti-choice organisation for doing so. His legacy will be long remembered. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a […]
