A survey commissioned by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) shows that female students who work part-time earn 7 per cent less than their male colleagues.

This amounts to an average of £800 per student over the course of a college career. Philip Madden, president of USI, says the survey found that the average male earnings in part-time student work are £4.80 per hour. The average female earnings are £4.48 per hour.

"This gap in pay is a cause of great concern. The survey found that in general men and women were undertaking the same kind of part-time employment, and yet a significant gap exists." Emma Dowling, USI's women's rights officer, says "the latest figures from the Central Statistics Office show that on average women earn just 64 per cent of men's pay. Our survey shows that this pay inequality begins at college".