“A painful rental market and increasing costs being loaded onto third level students are all contributing to increasing demand on student counselling services, according to Galway’s student leader …” (more)
[Stephen Corrigan, Connacht Tribune, 15 November]
“Up to 20 students every week are availing of a Food Bank that’s been set up at University College Cork. The parcels are a direct response to those experiencing poverty but who the student union couldn’t immediately offer financial help to …” (more)
[Irish Examiner, 15 November]
“Up to 20 students at University College Cork are availing of a food bank service on a weekly basis. The UCC Students’ Union founded the food bank in response to the financial hardships expressed by students due to rising rents and static levels of student grant aid …” (more)
[Marian O’Flaherty, RTÉ News, 11 November]
“This week, University College Cork (UCC) became the first Irish university in modern times to open a food bank for struggling students. The organiser, University College Cork Students’ Union (UCCSU), follows in the footsteps of several smaller institutes, which have recently reported on the success of food bank initiatives in their colleges. That such measures are needed, however, no doubt sounded alarm bells for many …” (more)
[University Times, 4 November]
“University College Cork Students’ Union (UCCSU) has launched a food bank as part of its student hardship fund to help students in financial difficulty. UCCSU is seeking to address the issue of student poverty in a ‘tangible manner’, in the wake of reports showing an estimated 36% of students in Ireland are currently experiencing ‘severe financial problems’ …” (more)
[Robert Quinn, University Times, 27 October]
“Sir, – That students from affluent backgrounds are more likely to study ‘high points’ courses should come as little surprise to anybody (News, October 21st). However, the findings of the Higher Education Authority (HEA) report make clear the need for significant additional, targeted investment across all levels of education to afford students an equal opportunity to fulfil their own potential, irrespective of their postal address …” (more)
[Letters, Irish Times, 24 October]
“The consistent failure of the government to restore funding levels to higher education is a major impediment to access by students from disadvantaged backgrounds, the Irish Federation of University Teachers (IFUT) has stated. Responding to new data from the Higher Education Authority (HEA) which found that only 10% of the national student population is from a disadvantaged background …” (more)
[IFUT, 23 October]
“The Irish Universities Association (IUA) welcomes HEA’s new report on the Spatial and Socio-Economic Profile of Higher Education Institutions in Ireland. The IUA has been using the same type of geocoded data as an indicator of socioeconomic background for the HEAR scheme for 10 years and has been advocating for others to use it for similar purposes. This report helps universities to ensure that they can identify and address the needs of the most underrepresented groups in Higher Education …” (more)
[IUA, 21 October]
“There’s no doubt that the data the HEA has complied is extremely valuable. It’s also fascinating. It doesn’t tell us anything we didn’t already know however, it just confirms it. The link between socio-economic status, academic attainment, and future earning levels is deep and enduring …” (more)
[Emma O Kelly, RTÉ News, 21 October]
“Those from Better Off Financial Backgrounds Still More Likely to Go to College. Progress has been made in delivering on the national priority of increasing access to higher education. The Higher Education Authority (HEA) today, Monday 21st, publishes a detailed picture of the geographical and socio-economic make-up of Ireland’s higher education institutions and courses. All publicly funded institutions except Trinity College Dublin are included in the study. Among the key findings are …” (more, download)
[David Sheils, HEA, 21 October]
“Affluent students are far more likely to study high-points courses in university and earn more within months of graduating than those from less well-off backgrounds, a new study finds. Medicine, dentistry, finance and engineering courses attract the highest proportions of well-off students from the wealthiest parts of the country, according to the Higher Education Authority (HEA) research …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 21 October]
“Social class speaks volumes when it comes to a student’s chances of going to college, the sort of degree they study, and how much they earn in their first job. The most detailed breakdown ever of the socio-economic and geographic background of third-level students paints a disturbing picture of the extent to which postcode determines study and career chances …” (more)
[Katherine Donnelly, Independent, 21 October]
“Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the discussions he has had with the Minister for Transport, Tourism and Sport to ensure comprehensive transport services for a radius of at least 45 kilometres from towns and cities with third level institutions in view of the fact that under 45 kilometres his Department, through SUSI, only pays the adjacent rate grant; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)
[Dáil written answers, 17 October]
“To ensure accessibility of education and the well-being of its students, UCD should make its fees proportional to parental income. Not all fees are covered by the free fees initiative and Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). The most daunting factor of university is accommodation. With the rising cost of living in Dublin, any undue financial burden could keep a student from being able to attend school …” (more)
[University Observer, 12 October]
“New research commissioned by Bank of Ireland as part of its Financial Wellbeing programme which helps ‘inform and educate students on spending and saving in a way that suits their needs’, has been recently published. The third level research was conducted by iReach on behalf of Bank of Ireland and was carried out in August of this year …” (more)
[Mark Jackson, University Observer, 9 October]
“Callaghan Commons is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Dublin City University Students’ Union. Here, he writes about how Budget 2020 should focus on students and access to education …” (more)
[TheJournal.ie, 5 October]
“Despite the academic year having gotten well underway, a number of University of Limerick students have failed to secure accommodation due to what they describe as a ‘housing shortage’ in the area …” (more)
[Rebecca Laffan, Limerick Leader, 5 October]
“Julia Bochenek, a second-year English Literature student at Trinity, is one of the many international students living in one of Dublin’s – and Ireland’s – many deluxe purpose-built student accommodation complexes …” (more)
[Rachel O’Leary, University Times, 5 October]
“Student unions across Ireland having been contacting government ministers and TDs today to urge them to take action to alleviate the financial burdens that students face by attending college and to call for greater funding for the higher education sector …” (more)
[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 3 October]
“On Thursday, 3rd October the Union of Students in Ireland are hosting the National Demonstration to Break the Barriers to higher education. Currently, some of the barriers to education include: Ireland has the second-highest fees in the EU [will be the highest after Brexit]; …” (more)
[USI, 30 September]
