Thousands of students from around Ireland are expected to descend upon Dublin city centre for a protest march, organised by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) and students unions across the country.
The demonstration will begin at 12.30pm next Wednesday (November 3rd) in Parnell Square and proceed from there to Government buildings, where a number of guest speakers will address the protesters.
USI has organised the march to attempt to secure funding for Higher Education in the upcoming budget. Read more
Tag Archive for USI
Thousands of Students Expected at USI Protest March
Maynooth Students’ Union Snubs Hanafin Visit
Maynooth students’ union has refused to attend the opening ceremony of the new Humanities and Social Sciences building in NUI Maynooth by Minister Mary Hanafin this Thursday (September 16th).
Officers from the students’ union will be joined by other protesters outside the new building, called Iontas, at the opening at 11.30am to highlight their cause. Read more
USI Condemns Government for Stingy Spending on Education
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has condemned the Government for its dire lack of investment in education.
The recent OECD’s annual Education at a Glance report has claimed that Ireland spent just 4.7% of its income on education in 2007. Read more
Students Union welcomes biggest ever research investment programme
- USI Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has welcomed the announcement today of Stage 5 of the Programme for Research in Third Level Institutions.
The Taoiseach has unveiled the biggest research investment in the history of the State, with his €359 million announcement of funding as part of the ongoing PRTLI initiative.
USI say it’s now vital that the Government continues to provide adequate financial support for Irish Higher Education institutions to ensure that they have the capacity and incentive to formulate and implement research in areas such as science and technology. Read more
USI Urges Students to Apply Early for Grants
USI - Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland has urged students to apply for grants as early as possible to avoid another meltdown of the grant system, as witnessed in the last academic year.
The current recession will result in a huge hike in the number of people seeking to return to college, including mature students and graduates wishing to up skill. This will put added pressure on the students grant system.
Changes in the circumstances of the parents of students, who have lost their jobs or have suffered a decrease in salary, will also result in more students applying for maintenance grants for the first time.
As part of the student grant scheme 2010, students do not have to wait until mid-August to apply for grants as in previous years. Read more
Calls on Coughlan to protect mature students
USI - Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on the Minister for Education, Mary Coughlan, to ensure that mature students are protected from crippling cuts that will prevent them from accessing college.
Today (May 20), a group of mature students gave a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education on the affects of refusing them the maintenance grant.
In the Budget of December 2009, the Government decided to discontinue the eligibility of mature students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) for the student maintenance grant. Read more
USI Celebrates its Golden Anniversary in Style
USI - Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland celebrated its 50th anniversary last night (November 20) with great success.
A host of USI’s past officers and presidents were honoured to be joined by Mary McAleese, the President of Ireland, at a gala dinner to mark the occasion.
The USI put together a magazine entitled “The USI: 1959 -2009”, documenting momentous events in the history of the organisation.
A short film, showcasing some memorable moments over the past decade, was also screened to guests at the event.
USI has fought proudly for the rights of the students in Ireland over the past five decades and will continue to campaign on their behalf long into the future.
USI President, Peter Mannion, said:
“A major milestone was marked in suitable fashion with the current and past personnel involved with USI.
The night was filled with many stories of student victories and campaigns, which took place throughout the years.
Despite the fact that students today are very different to those of the past, USI is still the most relevant organisation on a national scale for students. It will remain to be so, long into the future.”
USI Warns Greens against Repeating New Zealand’s Mistakes
USI - Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland is calling on the Irish Green Party to honour its promise to keep third level education free during its negotiations for the Programme for Government.
The current Government is considering possible models for third level tuition fees, with the preferred model being a deferred-loan system akin to that in New Zealand.
The introduction of this system in New Zealand has had many adverse effects, such as a delay in buying cars, houses and starting families by graduates.
Meanwhile, graduates’ credit ratings have also suffered as a result of tuition fees there.
New information obtained from the Minister of Tertiary Education in New Zealand shows that the expected level of debt owed to her is expected to reach NZ$20 billion in 2022.
USI is calling on the Green Party to maintain its promise to the students of Ireland and ensure that the same mistakes are not made here as in New Zealand.
USI President, Peter Mannion, said:
“The USI is calling on the Greens to heed this warning from New Zealand. The deferred loan system does not work and has the potential to bankrupt the education department.
After weeks of discussing NAMA and noting the devastating effects of huge debt on our country it seems that the Greens finally have an opportunity to halt a system that would become an unmitigated disaster.
When this recession is finally passed, what type of education system will we be left with? The negotiations between the Green Party and Fianna Fail this week and the ensuing vote at the Greens conference will effectively decide on the educational output of our country for decades. It is imperative that the Greens stand firm on this issue.
The Green Parties in New Zealand and Australia, who both have college fees in the deferred loan model, both wish to return to a free education system.
USI call on the Green Party in Ireland not to fail the upcoming generations of Irish students and citizens.”
Students Union concerned over Sligo grants row
USI Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland is deeply concerned about the delay in payment of the maintenance grant to students from Sligo.
Sligo County Council has indicated that it will not make the grant available to students until it receives the relevant funding from the Government.
The USI has strongly condemned the Minister of Education, Batt O’ Keefe, for failing to implement long overdue reforms to the student grant system, which were promised in the Student Support Bill
This bill was designed to address the longstanding criticism of the student grants system by introducing reforms which would streamline the whole process, making it easier to operate and less bureaucratic.
For years a fragmented grants system has been responsible for delayed grant payments and much confusion to students.
The USI is anxious that the lack of an adequate financial support system and the constant threat of fees will significantly decrease the numbers of students being able to access third level education in this country.
USI President, Peter Mannion, said:
“Given the current economic climate, even more students are relying on financial help from the Government with their college expenses. This year, we have witnessed an increase of 30 percent in the number of students applying for the maintenance grant.
The USI student grant information evenings, which were held all over Ireland, attracted thousands of students and parents, who needed assistance filling out grant forms and understanding the system.
For vulnerable students, the first six weeks in college are critical and if these students are struggling financially, there is a real danger that they will be compelled to drop out of their studies.
With little prospect of securing part-time work, how are these students expected to pay rent, buy course materials or simply meet the basic costs of living?
This latest delay in the payment of grants by Sligo County Council will affect hundreds of students, who may possibly have to wait until January 2010 to receive their payments.”
This delay would not have occurred if the Student Support Bill had been enacted as promised.”
Students outraged as College fees beckon
USI Union of Students of Ireland
The Union of Students in Ireland has expressed deep concern that the Irish Education Minister has directed colleges around the country to inform incoming students that they may be liable to pay tuition fees in the future.
In a letter circulated by the Higher Education Authority (HEA), on behalf of the Department of Education, colleges have been asked to inform all new students, as part of their induction, that third level fees may be re-introduced in the 2010 academic year.
The North West have two third level colleges in Letterkenny IT in Donegal and IT Sligo in Sligo.
In response to the Irish Minister’s letter, the USI is urging the people around Ireland to lobby their local TDs to ask them to reject Minister O’ Keefe’s proposals to re-introduce college fees.
The Minister’s proposals to reintroduce college fees will only further add to the devastation of Ireland’s economy.
It will significantly decrease the numbers of students being able to access third level education and inevitably force thousands of students out of Higher Education and on to the already excessive social welfare queues.
USI President, Peter Mannion, said:
“It is appalling that this Minister has pre-empted his colleagues’ feedback just weeks before they are due to submit their views on the re-introduction of Third level fees
This letter suggests that he has already made up his mind to re-introduce fees without hearing the views of the Cabinet on the matter.
Recent information shows that many TDs are opposed to fees, but it seems as if the Minister is ignoring this fact.
He does not appear interested in his colleagues’ feedback and is continuing on his quest to burden students with crippling and unnecessary debt.
Now is the time for parents and students to rally to our call and lobby their local TDs to reject any re-introduction of college fees, be it in the form of a deferred loan system or graduate tax.
It is also grotesque that, thousands of students, as part of their induction to college, will be burdened with the anxiety that they could be facing crippling debt in the near future.
The USI is fundamentally opposed to fees in any format and will fight on behalf of students and their families against any return of college fees.”
