Ninth Level Ireland

“NUI Galway Students’ Union has joined USI and NUS-USI in the launch of the Education for All campaign which is calling for immediate action on Higher Education funding. The organisation that represents 374,000 students across the island of Ireland has written an open letter to Minister Simon Harris asking him to take action on a number of key areas …” (more)

[Michael Malone, Galway Daily, 21 September]

“Students across the island of Ireland have today kicked-off a series of actions aimed at urging their TDs to sign a pledge committing to six actions as part of the Union of Students in Ireland’s new Education for All campaign. The USI, which represents 374,000 students in Ireland, has written to the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris calling on him to take action on the key issues that prevent many from accessing third level education …” (more)

[USI, 21 September]

“Minister for Higher Education Simon Harris have launched a new Active Consent toolkit for third-level institutions in Ireland to tackle sexual harassment on campuses around the country. Earlier this year, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) published the findings of a survey on the prevalence of sexual harassment in Irish colleges …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 20 September]

“Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats): To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to a document (details supplied); his views on its budgetary requests; and if he will make a statement on the matter …” (more)

[Dáil written answers, 17 September]

“Tens of thousands of third level students in Dublin are to have limited access to college campuses under new Covid-19 restrictions. Most lectures and teaching will take place online where possible, with the exception of tutorials and laboratory work …” (more)

[Carl O’Brien, Irish Times, 18 September]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has released a statement urging immediate action to protect student renters ahead of anticipated restrictions in Dublin. The statement arrives as the likelihood of Dublin entering Level 3 of the Government’s Covid-19 roadmap increases, as well as the predicted National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) recommendation for Dublin colleges to move to almost entirely online teaching …” (more)

[Madalyn Williams, Trinity News, 18 September]

“Following guidance yesterday from government that higher and third level institutions should ‘consider enhanced protective measures’, the union has expressed concern by the ambiguity of the statement …” (more)

[Shannon Connolly, Trinity News, 16 September]

“Dublin-based third-level institutions told to consider ‘enhanced protective measures’ as part of a five-level strategy to deal with Covid-19 over the coming months which was released by the government this afternoon …” (more)

[Rosie Roberts-Kuntz, College Tribune, 15 September]

“Third-level students should consider not returning home at the weekends during the academic term, in order to reduce the spread of Covid-19, the chairman of the CAO board has said. The suggestion has been challenged by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), which said visiting family is important for the mental health of young people …” (more)

[Shauna Bowers and Vivienne Clarke, Irish Times, 11 September]

“Half of students did not get their rental deposits back after they were forced to vacate their accommodation at the beginning of lockdown. A new survey highlights how students were negatively impacted when universities had to close, forcing many to return home to live with their parents …” (more)

[Amy Molloy, Independent, 10 September]

“USI President sets out student choices for the future of higher education in Ireland. Ireland’s education system could be a world leader, where students ought never be constrained by their ability to afford courses, USI President Lorna Fitzpatrick has told an education sector seminar today …” (more)

[USI, 3 September]

“Third level students in Cork are preparing for a return to college amid concerns over fees and accommodation costs. With some third level institutes opting largely for supporting students to learn from home, calls have been made for student contribution fees to be reduced …” (more)

[Darragh Bermingham, EchoLive, 31 August]

“The president of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has criticised the government for giving colleges the freedom to charge students with registration fees of up to €3,000. Minister for Education Norma Foley came under fire yesterday for saying that colleges would be allowed to charge full fees for this year if they wished to, regardless of how much time students spend on campus …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 31 August]

“The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has called for an immediate €500 reduction of student college fees with many classes set to take place remotely. It comes as yesterday Education Minister Norma Foley said third-level colleges will be able to charge their students the full €3,000 in contribution fees, even if they severely restrict access to campus and force them to stay at home …” (more)

[BreakingNews.ie, 31 August]

“Third-level colleges will be able to charge the full €3,000 in fees to their students even if they severely restrict access to campus and force them to stay at home, Education Minister Norma Foley has said …” (more)

[Daniel McConnell, Irish Examiner, 30 August]

“Urgent and transformative action must take place to show there is zero tolerance for sexual violence and harassment in third level education after another report highlighted the extent of the problem, says the Union of Students in Ireland …” (more)

[USI, 28 August]

“As the Leaving Certificate results date of September 7th draws closer, many students are facing uncertainty regarding where they will get accommodation for the academic year. Earlier in the summer, University of Limerick (UL) announced they have amended their accommodation offerings, allowing some students to avail of ‘flexible accommodation’ in recognition of the reduced on-campus time they will have due to Covid-19 restrictions …” (more)

[Muireann Duffy, BreakingNews.ie, 26 August]

“The Minister for Housing, Planning and Local Government has invited the Union of Students in Ireland to a meeting to discuss its proposals to strengthen protections for student renters …” (more)

[RTÉ News, 25 August]

“USI President Lorna Fitzpatrick has criticised the government for leaving student representatives out of the development of the public health guidelines that universities will have to follow during the coming year …” (more)

[Cormac Watson, University Times, 7 August]

“All third level institutions will be required to produce and publish action plans on tackling sexual harassment as part of efforts to root out sex crimes in colleges …” (more)

[Juno McEnroe, Irish Examiner, 27 July]