[…]Manifesto, which is available here in English and here in Irish are: Publish a new strategic plan for student accommodation and commit to providing the number of students beds needed to fill the shortfall Make the required legislative changes needed to allow Technological Universities borrow money to build and purchase student accommodation Introduce free public transport for all students Abolish third-level fees, including at postgraduate level, to provide equal access to education and reduce the financial barriers Establish a minimum stipend of €28,000 for all PhD students Decriminalise recreational drugs for personal use Provide core multi-annual funding for student mental […]
[…]aims to raise €1.4 million in 2024 to support people experiencing homelessness in Ireland – for more information on how to organise a sleep out or check if there is a community event near you, click […]
[…]fees by €1,500 now and introduce a plan to abolish fees over the next few years Free public transport for all […]
[…]times over. USI President, Chris Clifford, said: “The severe shortage of accessible and affordable accommodation has left many students in a constant state of anxiety, forcing them to choose between pursuing their education and securing basic living conditions. The cost of travel, particularly for those who must commute long distances, increases these difficulties, while the burden of high fees also continues to act as a significant barrier for many. “Access to education should not be limited to those who can afford it. Every person has a right to an education, but the higher education sector is becoming increasingly exclusionary as financial struggles force some […]
[…]from only offering 51-week leases passed through the Oireachtas yesterday (July 11), is welcomed by the Union of Students in Ireland. USI had brought the issue to the attention of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science in January when a number of students came to the union saying they were only being offered 51-week leases instead of the usual term-time leases for the next academic year. At the time, USI was advised that this practice could not be enforced under the existing USI Student Accommodation Bill, which was enacted in summer 2021, after being tabled by Sinn Fein and accepted […]
