“Union of Students in Ireland (USI) President Lorna Fitzpatrick today described comments made by government ministers in the Irish Daily Mail about students receiving the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) as ‘offensive and misinformed’ …” (more)
[Cormac Watson, University Times, 4 May]
“On Wednesday April 28th, Dail Eireann was presented with The USI’s Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Act 2021 by Sinn Fein and signed by 56 opposition TDS. In a statement from the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), they outlined the changes that would take place under the proposed Bill …” (more)
[Luke Murphy, College Tribune, 28 April]
“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 …” (more)
[USI, 27 April]
“Sinn Féin TD for Carlow Kilkenny Kathleen Funchion has urged cross-party support for the USI calls to provide greater protections for student renters, particularly those attending IT Carlow. The motion will be heard in the Dáil on Wednesday …” (more)
[Suzanne Pender, Carlow Nationalist, 26 April]
“The Society of St Vincent de Paul have joined calls by the Union of Students in Ireland to reform the SUSI grant scheme ahead of a full return to college. The funding model has been described as ‘not fit for purpose’ and no longer in line with the cost of living …” (more)
[Teresa Mannion, RTÉ News, 23 April]
“All staff and students in higher education are to be surveyed on their experiences of sexual violence and sexual harassment during the coming weeks as part of a ‘zero tolerance’ initiative to create safe campuses for all. In addition, all colleges are being required to record and report cases of sexual harassment and bullying of staff and students on an annual basis …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 12 April]
“Former president of the NUI Galway students’ union and chemistry graduate Clare Austick has been elected president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) for the 2021-2022 academic year. Ms Austick, who previously held the USI position of vice-president for welfare, acknowledged that there was a lot of work to be done in the coming months to ensure students could return to campus ‘in a safe manner’ in autumn 2021 while dealing with the impact of the pandemic on students nationwide …” (more)
[Sorcha Pollak, Irish Times, 8 April]
“Tonight, the government voted against the People Before Profit (PBP) Young People and Access to Further and Higher Education motion in the Dáil. All opposition TDs bar 8 members of the Regional Group of independents voted in favour of the bill …” (more)
[Kate Henshaw, Trinity News, 25 March]
“Over two thirds of third-level students feel Irish should be a compulsory school subject according to a survey conducted by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The USI Report on the Teaching of Irish 2021 found that 67% said the language should be fully compulsory, however only 5% of students said there was an emphasis placed on teaching Irish as a language to be spoken beyond the classroom …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 15 March]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has condemned the passing over of 39 Trinity medical students for the Covid-19 vaccine on the night it was given to 16 relatives of staff at Coome hospital. In a statement to Trinity News, the USI said it was ‘very disappointed and concerned to see the story break’ …” (more)
[Kate Henshaw, Trinity News, 9 March]
“The Union of Students in Ireland joins with the vast majority of students in Ireland, including most in Limerick, in expressing distress at the scenes posted on social media last night. USI has heard from many students today who are disappointed and upset by the incidents that took place in Limerick yesterday evening …” (more)
[USI, 3 March]
“The Union of Students (USI) in Ireland has called on the Oireachtas to pass a Bill being tabled on Thursday that would force landlords to return prepaid rents to students who cannot live in the accommodation due to public health restrictions. The Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Bill 2021 would also enable students to terminate contracts on accommodation they no longer need because of Covid-19 …” (more)
[Colin Gleeson, Irish Times, 25 February]
“Sinn Féin spokesperson on Housing Eoin Ó Broin TD and spokesperson on Higher Education Rose Conway-Walsh TD have commented on the launch of the Residential Tenancies (Student Rents and Other Protections) (Covid-19) Bill 2021. The Bill has been signed by 56 opposition TDs and was launched with the USI today …” (more)
[Sinn Féin, 25 February]
“Minister for Further and Higher Education, Simon Harris TD, has confirmed a new working group will be established to examine how to enhance student wellbeing. The group will be chaired by the Union of Students in Ireland and will be tasked with identifying, refining and implementing strategies to enhance learner engagement and wellbeing …” (more)
[gov.ie, 14 January]
“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called on third-level institutions to mitigate any potential educational disadvantages faced by students with the introduction of increased measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus …” (more)
[Emer Moreau, University Times, 6 January]
“University students across Ireland have expressed frustration in relation to student accommodations and the circumstances surrounding Covid-19. Vice-President for Welfare of the Union of Students Ireland Clare Austick said there has been an increase in number of student seeking help regarding accommodation …” (more)
[Gracius Ehienomen Godwin, Limerick Voice, 3 December]
“Trinity College Dublin Students’ Union (TCDSU) Council has voted in favour of a campaign to lobby the government to increase financial support for Graduate Entry Medicine students. Delegates from TCDSU who attend the Union of Students In Ireland (USI) National Council and USI Congress are to put forward motions at meetings of those bodies to establish a nationwide USI campaign to lower GEM tuition fees …” (more)
[Audrey Brown, Trinity News, 24 November]
“In late September, hundreds of students gathered at Spanish Arch in Galway. They were widely condemned for breaching Covid-19 regulations. While student leaders say large gatherings and house parties should not have happened, they point out that the vast majority of students are quietly giving up at least a chunk of their student years to support the battle against coronavirus – and getting little credit for it …” (more)
[Peter McGuire, Irish Times, 24 November]
“Dr Brian Maguire, Director of Quality Assurance at Quality and Qualifications Ireland, and Kevin McStravock, Deputy President and VP for Academic Affairs for the Union of Students in Ireland, discuss e-learning and contract cheating …” (audio)
[RTÉ – Drivetime, 18 November]
“Universities risk reputational damage due to ‘extravagant’ fees being charged at a time when most learning has shifted online, a seminar organised by the Irish Council for International Students has heard. While domestic undergraduate students pay fees of up to €3,000 a year, the cost can rise to €25,000 for international students or €55,000 for medical students from abroad …” (more)
[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 17 November]
