USI question relevance of ESRI report

The Union of Students in Ireland has branded the ESRI report on the Cost of Participation in Higher Education as outdated in the current economic environment. Many of the statistics contained in the report are based on surveys conducted in the years 2003 to 2006. Due to the recent recession, increased unemployment rates and changes in the cost of living in Ireland, these figures do not truly reflect the state of student finances today. In addition to this, significant decreases have been applied to the student maintenance grant and qualification criteria for the Back to Education Allowance. A recent report by the UCD’s Geary Institute revealed that the psychological well-being of an average Irish student is lower than that of their peers. These mental health problems were found to correlate with the financial worries of these students. According to the Geary Institute report - based on a survey of 3,500 undergraduate and taught masters students in the country's seven universities - one in three students run out of money on a regular basis.

USI President, Peter Mannion, said: “In today’s climate, much of the data contained in this ESRI report is outdated and irrelevant. The assumptions that parents are still able to part fund their children’s Higher Education, and that students can secure part-time employment, are now redundant. That said, many of the points raised in the report still need to be addressed: For example, the need for greater financial support for mature students. The recent changes announced in the Budget 2010 mean that new mature students in the academic year 2010/11 will not qualify for the grant if in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance. This is something which needs immediate addressing by the Minister for Finance and the Minister for Education. USI continues to call for the implementation of the Student Support Bill, which will facilitate vital improvements to the student maintenance grant system.”