[…]them having use of the room for the full seven days a week – this shows that digs is not a very cheap or low-cost option. On the publication of the report today, USI President, Chris Clifford said: “The scarcity of student housing has plagued students for over a decade and is one of the symptoms of the wider flawed housing policy in Ireland. USI, local Students’ Unions, and others have outlined these issues repeatedly and have laid-out what we think needs to be done to address this crisis and provide proper accommodation for students now and into the future. […]
[…]and the Government statement said that the new policy was that “Government will fund the delivery of purpose built student accommodation.” (statement here) But this policy was already announced in November 2022, when Minister Harris said: “This landmark policy response will, for the first time, see the state providing financial support in the construction of on-site student accommodation, and underpins the policy commitments set out in Housing for All. I am pleased today to confirm Government has approved my proposal to directly intervene in the delivery of student accommodation.” (statement here) USI President, Chris Clifford said: “When we heard through the media last […]
[…]away the student space on the Athlone campus that is currently used by the Students’ Union to store and distribute free period products, condoms and exam packs, as well as for other student-focused campaigns. The Students’ Union received an email that the college is converting the space, saying the decision is final – this follows a recent move by the university to take away a student space on the TUS Moylish campus in Limerick. USI President, Chris Clifford said: “This a vital space for the Students’ Union on the Athlone campus and they will not stand by and let this […]
Students are gearing up to show their anger and frustration at the soaring cost of higher education, at three Union of Students in Ireland-organised protests over three days in late November. Recent research showed that getting through a four-year degree now costs students and their families over €50,000 on average. And with Government showing no signs of reducing the Student Contribution Charge or addressing the student accommodation crisis, USI is launching the Cost of College campaign. The overall Cost of College campaign will involve two sub-campaigns; the No Keys, No Degrees campaign which was launched in September as a result […]
Officer responsible: Vice President for Equality and Citizenship 2021 EM (CZN) 5 CETA Proposed By: TU Dublin Students’ Union Congress Notes: That CETA is the Comprehensive Economic & Trade Agreement that would set up an investor court system between the EU & Canada within Ireland. This would allow businesses to take legal action against the state for punitive damages based on the loss of revenue from Social Policy passed by the Government. Congress Notes with Immediate Concern: That the deal is likely to go through in the next couple of weeks and that USI currently does not have a policy […]
2022 EM (GAE) 6: Ag Tacú le Gaeilgeoirí ó Thuaidh leis an Lá Dearg// Support Gaeilgeoirí in the North with the Lá Dearg Proposed by QUBSU Aithníonn an Comhdháil: Tháinig deireadh le cruinniú idir Conradh na Gaeilge agus an Aire stáit i mBéal Feirste ar 12 Aibreán 2022 nuair a dhiúltaigh an tAire am cinntithe a chur ar fáil i gclár ama Westminster chun an reachtaíocht Gaeilge a chur i bhfeidhm faoi mar a gealladh í sa chomhaontú Ré Nua Cur Chuige Nua. Aithníonn an Comhdháil chomh maith: Bhí sé mar bhunchloch aitheanta sa chomhaontú sin, Ré Nua Cur Chuige […]
[…]state. Congress recognises: That in many student unions abroad and indeed in many organisations worldwide the issue of abortion is viewed as an issue of equality and women’s rights . Congress further recognises: That the issue is one of concern for Welfare Officers around the country. Congress acknowledges: The establishment of the Safe and Legal (in Ireland) Abortion Rights Campaign which aims to end the hypocrisy of exiling women in crisis pregnancy that choose to have an abortion. The campaign includes various strands, including a litigation strand, a public awareness strand and a national and international advocacy strand. Congress mandates: […]
The Union of Students in Ireland welcomes the decision by cabinet to act on the USI’s Student Accommodation Bill and stop landlords forcing students to pay numerous months’ rent in advance to secure accommodation. The move this morning (Wednesday) comes on the back of significant campaigning by USI, Students’ Unions and students across Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic. Cabinet also agreed to restrict the notice period students would have to give to exit rental contracts to 28 days, in line with the USI bill. This had been a particular issue for students during the pandemic when they had to leave, […]
Government TDs are being urged to support the student accommodation bill which will be debated in Dáil Eireann on Wednesday (April 28), by the Union of Students in Ireland and Students’ Unions all over Ireland. The USI’s Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Act 2021 was tabled in late February by Sinn Fein and signed by 56 opposition TDS. The bill already has the support of all TDs from Sinn Fein, the Labour Party, the Social Democrats, Solidarity-People Before Profit and the Independent Group and would grant students much-needed protections. Now USI is calling on Government TDs to back the […]
Delegates at the Union of Students in Ireland Congress have passed a motion to join calls for the reopening of the Gay Men’s’ Health Service (GMHS) clinic and other sexual healthcare facilities that are currently closed or highly restricted due to the COVID-19 pandemic. USI will now lobby for these services to be reinstated as a matter of urgency – the GMHS is currently only open for returning PrEP patients, leaving no services for other issues affecting gay men and the rest of the LGBTQI+ community and others. While a phased reintroduction of STI services is currently under way, this needs to be sped-up, […]
12/02/2021 - 13/02/2021 10:00 am - 2:30 pm EMpower […]
29/01/2021 - 30/01/2021 10:00 am - 8:00 pm Women Lead […]
The Union of Students in Ireland is encouraging and supporting students to contact their local representatives and members of the Oireachtas Justice Committee ahead of a committee discussion on the Labour Party ‘Harassment, Harmful Communications and other Related Offences Bill’. USI has joined calls for legislative protections to ensure image based sexual abuse is recognised as a crime is Ireland. A person should never have their images shared without their consent. People, particularly women have been victims of these attacks for years, most recently with the images shared on the Discord server. USI fully supports Women’s Aid’s 16 Days of Action Campaign […]
A new campaign aimed at encouraging students to take action against the significant barriers preventing asylum seekers from taking up or completing third-level education has been launched by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), the Movement of Asylum Seekers in Ireland (MASI) and student justice and equality organisation, STAND. An online launch event took place last night (Monday, November 23) for Migrant Minds Matter, which will seek to promote unrestricted access to third-level education and comprehensive and meaningful supports for those living in Direct Provision. Along with campaigning for an end to the Direct Provision system, Migrant Minds Matter […]
