Ninth Level Ireland

“Union leaders are appealing to NUI Galway to show compassion to students who are sitting exams. Students’ Union leaders from GMIT, UCC, Trinity College Dublin and the Union of Students in Ireland have written to the NUIG President and Vice President to voice concern’s over the university’s opposition to the introduction of policies aimed at supporting students …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 25 January]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on the government to recognise the autonomy of students’ unions, arguing a national framework is a necessity if students are to hold their colleges to account …” (more)

[Donal MacNamee, University Times, 20 December]

“Fianna Fáil Spokesperson on Health and Wicklow TD, Stephen Donnelly is brining together a group of Student’s Union Presidents from across the country to discuss issues relating to education, housing, health and Brexit. Deputy Donnelly said it that was important to get the perspective of the Student Unions in order to bring forward real and meaningful solutions to the various crisis that exist within each of the sectors …” (more)

[Fianna Fáil, 25 September]

“With September looming, the annual news cycle has invariably turned to the perennial problem of student accommodation, or, more correctly, the lack of it. What is increasingly clear is that, with their eye-watering rents, the newly built purpose built student accommodation blocks found on most college campuses have done little to alleviate the issue. In fact, far from providing a solution to the accommodation problem, they are starting to look more like corporate investment vehicles …” (more)

[Donal Horgan, The Burkean, 24 August]

“Delegates from the Technological University of Dublin Students’ Union (TUDSU) have walked out of the Congress of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), following a motion proposed by the USI President to conduct a review of the fee that the national students’ union charges member organisations for affiliation. Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) President Shane De Rís, and Education Officer Aimee Connolly, also walked out in protest …” (more)

[Rory O’Sullivan, Trinity News, 2 April]

“The Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) have responded to a motion that was tabled and then withdrawn from Queen’s University Belfast Students’ Union (QUBSU) Council, saying that they will continue to patrol the university campus. The motion, which was due to be debated at a meeting of the union’s council last Wednesday, was withdrawn hours before the meeting …” (more)

[Finn Purdy, Trinity News, 26 March]

“Students in Cork have had to walk peers who express suicidal thoughts to a support centre because of a lack of mental health resourcing at third level, a union has claimed. An official at Cork Institute of Technology’s student union says the waiting list to see a counsellor is so lengthy, some students who experience mental health issues are putting off seeking an appointment in case they take a place from someone suffering greater difficulties …” (more)

[Joe Leogue, Irish Examiner, 26 March]

“Students from Trinity College Dublin are circulating a petition to cut funding to the University Times, a student-run newspaper based on campus. The University Times (UT) today reported that students are seeking to end the funding of a salaried position of Editor and stop the practice of providing on-campus accommodation for the Editor …” (more)

[Brían Donnelly, University Observer, 20 March]

“Tá Oifigeach Gaeilge tofa in Aontas na Mac Léinn Ollscoil na Banríona (QUBSU) den chéad uair i stair an choláiste. Toghadh Aodhán Ó Baoill oíche Chéadaoin, gan iomaíocht ar bith ina éadan, le 76 faoin gcéad den 1,267 ag vótáil ar a shon …” (more)

[Eoin O’Hare, University Times, 7 March]

“At the beginning of each year students across Ireland pay their college and university fees. Incorporated into these lump sums is the standardised €8 membership fee for the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). This organisation purports to represent 374,000 third level students across the island of Ireland. This of course means that it rakes in approximately €3,000,000 per year …” (more)

[Ciarán Fagan, The Burkean, 1 March]

“Student societies have condemned Dublin City University Students’ Union (DCUSU) for showing ‘a clear disregard for democracy and transparency’, after the union executive voted to support disaffiliation from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) without consulting class representatives …” (more)

[Jack Synnott and Orla Murnaghan, University Times, 23 February]

“Technological University Dublin (TU Dublin) students have voted to create a new overarching students’ union across its City, Blanchardstown, and Tallaght campuses, with more than 95% students voting Yes to the new union …” (more)

[Lauren Boland, Trinity News, 21 February]

“Students’ unions at NUI Galway and GMIT have issued a warning as revellers form queues at Eyre Street in the city for ‘Donegal Tuesday’. The annual event is held as part of unofficial Rag Week celebrations with students gathering at Eyre Street from early morning …” (more)

[Galway Bay FM, 12 February]

“Maynooth University has finalised plans to construct a new student centre and in conjunction with Maynooth Student Union (MSU) the first stage of construction was signed off on January 23rd. The student centre will be built as part of Maynooth University’s campus development plan. The plan aims to meet the needs of students, staff and the wider community by providing important campus buildings and infrastructure …” (more)

[Rachel Halpin, The College View, 6 February]

“Dublin Institute of Technology Students’ Union (DITSU) has cancelled any ‘iron stomach’ competitions on campus, after the the institute’s insurance provider advised that such events were too risky …” (more)

[Aisling Marren, University Times, 4 February]

“The Union Students of Ireland have come out in support of Pharmacy Students and upcoming changes to their programs. These changes under the new integrated Pharmacy programme means that students will be required to pay increased fees and participated in greater levels of unpaid placements as a result of a ban in place by the Pharmaceutical Society of Ireland (PSI) in paying for student labour …” (more)

[Aaron Bowman, College Tribune, 30 January]

“Relations between students’ unions around the country and the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) are fraught over developments in campaigning against direct provision. The tensions follow a meeting of students’ union leaders in recent weeks to discuss a national, union-led campaign against direct provision …” (more)

[Peter Kelly and Niamh Lynch, Trinity News, 28 January]

“Students in NUI Maynooth are one step closer to having a student centre, after the college and Maynooth Students’ Union (MSU) signed off on the first stage of the report on the building. In an email statement to The University Times, MSU President Leon Diop confirmed that the signing of stage one was a ‘massive leap for the building’ …” (more)

[Aisling Marren, University Times, 24 January]

“In the come-down from a momentous victory, freed from the focus on the repeal of the eighth amendment, the student movement has already joined a wider variety of protests this year, urging action on climate change or bewailing the state of Ireland’s sex education …” (more)

[University Times, 21 January]

“At long last, Tobacco Free Trinity has finally achieved its goal. Trinity is now a smoke-free campus, after years of planning and debate and in spite of the rancour of some students. After initially coming out against it, Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) eventually softened its position and then decided it’d be better off having no stance at all …” (more)

[University Times, 17 December]