[…]Services that there should be one counsellor for every 1,000 to 1,500 students. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, the Government has increased student mental health funding from €3 million to €5 million, but that figure has only been allocated on an annual basis, leaving these services unable to plan for the future. Ahead of Budget 2024, USI is calling for Government to immediately commit to multi-annual funding of €6 million a year to maintain core counselling services and to implement the National Student Mental Health and Suicide Prevention Framework. However, USI says Government needs a plan to increase this funding by €11.5 million in order to reach […]
[…]we study through the lens of female rugby. Why Research Matters Video Competition 2022 – David Nolan Ailbhe McGurrin, a PhD researcher at the School of Agriculture and Food Science at University College Dublin, has been awarded the ‘Most Informative’ prize. This prize is awarded to a researcher who has communicated the nature and aim of their research project in a clear and engaging manner. Ailbhe’s project focuses on the medicinal properties of Irish seaweeds. Ailbhe’s research is important to protect against a future where ‘superbugs’ (bacteria which have evolved to survive all antibiotic medicines) will be a huge danger […]
[…]the Knightsbrook Hotel in county Meath for the first in-person USI Congress since before the COVID-19 pandemic. Beth was elected Vice President for Campaigns at USI in 2021, having previously served as Commercial and Fundraising Officer in UCC SU – Beth graduated from UCC with a BA in Politics and History. USI Vice President for the Southern Region and former WITSU student, John Fortune was elected Vice President for Equality and Citizenship, while the rest of the Coiste Gnó next year will be new to the USI team. Waqar Ahmed, Sarah Behan, Ross Boyd, Hannah Brennan, Clodagh McGivern, Sierra Müller-Owens, […]
[…]the challenges of society opening up post-pandemic and acknowledges of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on student mental health.” USI will travel to colleges and universities around the country with an Open Up roadshow, as well as running an online campaign through social media and the union’s website at USI.ie. Over the past number of years, USI has identified encouraging and helping students to be more open about their mental health, and to seek help when needed, as a vital part of its work, as the USI Student Mental Health Report 2019 showed how not talking about problems makes […]
21/03/2022 11:00 am - 2:00 pm Open Up Mental Health Campaign Launch Sugar Club, Dublin […]
[…]for some time about the huge cost of getting a higher education in Ireland. But coming out of COVID-19, students are nothing short of outraged. USI, SUs and students across the island feel that students were scapegoated and their sacrifices diminished, throughout the pandemic. As we have been saying, the student accommodation crisis is quite possibly the worst it has ever been due to both a lack of affordable accommodation post COVID and the lack of investment in affordable Purpose-Built Student Accommodation.” USI Vice President for Campaigns, Beth O’Reilly said: “Yet again in Budget 2022, Government showed that it has […]
[…]least that is needed considering there has been no change to the grant since it was slashed in 2011. Previously, the Student Maintenance Grant was linked to the cost of living and without investment in over a decade, it has become inadequate and not fit-for-purpose. USI President, Clare Austick said: “USI has highlighted time and time again that students need to see the end of the €3,000 Student Contribution Charge and a plan made to implement a publicly-funded system of third-level education. In our Pre-Budget Submission, USI outlined that we wanted to see a three-year plan for the abolishing of […]
[…]situation has been bad for several years, but after years of inaction from Government and the COVID-19 pandemic, it is an absolute mess. “I cannot stress enough how bad the situation is for students at the moment. They are dropping out of college, deferring places, facing travelling long distances every day – that’s if there is even a public transport option – and living in hostels or hotels for crazy money. This cannot go on any longer and action must be taken. All students want is a decent, basic place to live so they can get their degrees and make […]
[…]said: “The level of financial support given to students through SUSI was drastically cut in 2011 and has not been reinstated, despite soaring costs of living, particularly accommodation costs. We see people not being able to undertake study and many students living with financial hardship and poverty because of the lack of access to supports or supports not being at the level needed. Seeing the figures laid out in black and white today should bring home to many that this situation is at a crisis level and must be addressed as a matter of […]
