REPRESENTATIVES of the Union of Students in Ireland occupied the offices of the Department of Education in Marlborough Street, Dublin, yesterday in protest at what they claimed was the "consistent failure" of the Minister for Education to address issues of concern to students.
Three USI officers entered the Department building at 4 p.m. yesterday and immediately occupied first floor offices. The officers involved were Mr Bob Jordan, USI's deputy president Mr Liam Kelly, education officer of USI, and Ms Noeleen Hartigan, USI's welfare officer. All three were later removed by gardai.
Mr Colm Keaveney, president of USI, said that they had been, forced to take direct action because repeated requests for a meeting with Ms Breathnach had "failed to elicit a response. "After the education convention of 194 the Minister initially showed a very friendly and productive approach to making students equal partners in the education system, but she has consistently failed to consult the most important component of any education system, that is, the student population."
Among USI's concerns are the "watering down" of university legislation, the union's continuing dissatisfaction with the maintenance grant system at third level and the failure to improve access to third level education through extra funding and additional university places, leading to management problems at local level. Mr Keaveney cited the current situation in Sligo RTC, where overcrowding had led members of the TUI to refuse to teach classes exceeding the agreed norm.
Ms Breathnach strongly rejected USI's criticisms of her Department, pointing to the introduction of free fees, increases in the level of third level funding and initiatives to encourage participation by students who were disadvantaged, disabled or previously unemployed.
She also said that the maintenance grant issue was being addressed by the increase of five per cent announced this week. Mr Keaveney described the 5 per, cent increase as "unacceptable" and accused the Minister of paying "lip service" to the issue of student poverty "Students needed a dramatic increase in maintenance and a five per cent increase amounts to less than £1.50 per week," he said.
Mr Keaveney warned that student anger could have serious implications for the Government in the next general election. "There are 150,000 angry students to consider as the election approaches " he said.