UCDSU TO SUPPORT NATIONAL STUDENT WALKOUT ON 17 OCTOBER
UCD Students’ Union (UCDSU) is to join forces with students’ unions across Ireland in supporting the National Student Walkout on Thursday, 17th October 2024 at 11:30 AM. This walkout will be a coordinated effort across all campuses to demand urgent action on key issues such as education funding, housing, and student rights, which have placed increasing strain on students amidst the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
All within the UCD community are being asked to gather at O’Reilly Hall, where they will be met by a number of speakers and performers on the day.
UCDSU has written to all education stakeholders within UCD, including staff union representatives, university management, and student clubs and societies, seeking their support for the walkout. Many of the demands being raised relate directly to the continued underfunding of the higher education sector, and UCDSU emphasises that the entire UCD community stands to benefit if these demands are met.
UCDSU President Miranda Bauer said:
“Students in UCD, and across Ireland, are facing unprecedented financial pressures. From the lack of affordable accommodation to the continued burden of the Student Contribution Charge and other forms of tuition fees, it is time for the Government to act. Our demands, including better funding for education and protections for students in Digs, are not just about students—they're about the sustainability of the entire education sector. We’ve written to all stakeholders at UCD, and I urge everyone to join the walkout and stand in solidarity with us as we fight for our future.”
UCDSU Campaigns & Engagement Officer Saskia McCormack-Eiffe added:
“We’re not just fighting for lower fees or more affordable accommodation—this is about creating a better, more inclusive university environment for everyone. The Government's lack of action on these issues affects not only students but staff, educators, and the future of Irish education as a whole. We're calling on the entire UCD community to join us in making sure our voices are heard.”
UCDSU is proactively communicating its position, having reached out to UCD’s staff unions, university leadership (including UCD President Prof. Orla Feely), and student clubs and societies to emphasise the collective benefits of supporting the walkout.
The demands aim to protect and improve the student experience while advocating for broader reforms that impact the whole higher education sector UCDSU has also formally requested that no students are penalised academically for partaking in the walkout.
The key demands of the national student walkout are:
Protection for students entering Digs accommodation
Building more affordable student accommodation
Abolition of the Student Contribution Charge
Proper funding for the higher education sector (€307m)
Minimum wage to match the living wage, inclusive of postgraduate stipends
Increased funding to cover hidden fees and improve student support services
Ending precarious employment contracts
Calling an immediate election to address the higher education crisis
UCDSU is urging students, staff, and all with a stake in the university community to join the walkout and send a clear message that the current situation in higher education is unsustainable.
ENDS
