THE Union of Students in Ireland has demanded that the next government should "radically increase student maintenance grants in line with the 1994 recommendations of the Higher Education Authority.
Ms Noeleen Hartigan, USI deputy president, said the HEA steering committee had recommended a doubling of the grant, yet it remained unchanged three years later. "Students can't survive on a maximum of £40 per week and, whatever the talk about targeting disadvantaged students, they could not be expected to live on that either.
USI staged a demonstration outside the Dail yesterday morning to present their demand for an increase in grants. Five students wore masks of John Bruton, Bertie Ahern, Dick Spring, Mary Harney and Proinsias De Rossa.
In its election document, USI also makes demands in the areas of student maintenance, housing, representation and union funding.
It demands that private college and post Leaving Certificate students should receive grants, and students should be given temporary medical cards during their academic careers.
Pointing out that half the Republic's student population lives away from home, USI seeks guidelines on "digs" and on campus accommodation to bring them into line with landlord and tenant legislation. It wants tax incentives for landlords who offer accommodation to those on short term leases or in need of speciality housing.
USI is also looking for two student seats on the Higher Education Authority and guaranteed representation on the National Council for Educational Awards and TEASTAS, as well as a commitment that USI will be given representation on any government body or working group dealing with thirdlevel education.
On student union funding, it is seeking a two year extension of the present £150 capitation charge paid by each student. However, it says most student unions receive less than 10 per cent of this money, and demands 50 per cent student representation on all committees allocating student services capitation funds.