Deontaisí do Mic Léinn ANOIS!

Tionólfadh agóid lasmuigh de teach Laighean Dé Máírt seo chaite ag éiliú deontaisí mic is iníon léinn a bheith in am ionas nach gcuirtear níos mó brú ná chóir ar mhic is iníon léinn atá i mbun staidéire. I láthair ag an agóid bhí Seanadóír Shinn Féin, Piaras Ó Dochartaigh; Teachta Dála de chuid Páirtí an Lucht Oibre, Ruairí Uí Chuinn, agus an Seanadóir nemahspleach ó Coláiste na Tríonóide Daithí Norris. Labhair an uile duine acu i bhfabhar na mic is iníon léinn agus a gcuid iarrataisí. Dúirt siad nach raibh sé sásúil ar chor ar bith go raibh ar mhic is iníon léinn fuireach go dtí mí Feabhra, do dheontaisí a bhí in ainm is teacht i mí Deireadh Fómhair. In eindí leis na baill tofa seo bhí mic is iníon léinn ó Coláiste na hOllscoile BÁC, Ollscoil Cathair BÁC, IT BÁC, Coláiste na Tríonóide, agus baill de chuid Aontas na Mic Léinn in Éirinn.



A protest was held outside Leinster House Tuesday last, 23 October, demanding that student grants be delivered in time so that no extra stress in the form of financial worries is added to the workload of students. Also present at the protest were Sinn Féin Senator, Pearse Doherty; Labour TD Ruairí Quinn, and independent Trinity College Senator David Norris. All of the politicians present spoke ferverently infavour of the students and their demands. They said that it was in know way satisfactory that students had to wait until maybe as late as February for grants that are due in October. There with the elected representatives were students from UCD, DCU, DIT, and TCD. Also present were members of the USI who organised the day’s events calling for student grants to be taken more seriously.

Ag labhairt dó tar éis an ócáid dúirt an Seanadóir SF, Piaras Ó Dochartaigh, nach raibh an scéal leanúnach seo ó thaobh deontaisí maith go leor. “Gach uile bliain cífimid an rud céanna, mic is iníon léinn ag iarraidh go leor airgead a dhéanamh ionas gur féidir leo maireachtaint go dtí go dtagann an deontas atá in ainm is a bheith acu mí na Samhna. Tá mic is iníon léinn fud fad na tíre tar éis buiséad a leagadh síos do deontas ar dhóigh leo atá ag teacht i mí Deireadh Fómhair ansin nuair a bhíonn mall air tá dualgas ar na dhaoine céanna dul ag lorg post nó airgead a fháil ar chíos ón mbanc. Tá an scéal imithe fad a dhóthain agus táimse ag seasamh taobh leis na scoláirí ollscoile anseo inniu ag glaoch ar an Aire Oideachais é a réitiú.”

Also speaking in he aftermath of the protest Ógra Shinn Féin College co-ordinator, Oisín Ó Dúbhlain said that students were well within their rights to demand grants promised them by the state.

“We have rights! The same situation presents itself every single year and Irish students have had enough. Ógra Shinn Féin are here today to extend our solidarity with all third-level students who find themselves in this position. As a youth organisation, we have within our ranks many third-level students who struggle to make ends meet on a day-to-day basis. Between college responsiblities, study, and assignment deadlines; students have enough to occupy their minds besides having to worry about getting a job to sustain themselves as well. The situation regarding student grants has gone far enough and it is the responsibility of the government as the elected representatives of this state to resolve this ongoing crisis. Student Grants ANOIS!”