The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has launched a ‘talk to your TD’ initiative as part of its ongoing ‘#EducationIs’ campaign against further increases in third level fees. IMPACT and several other trade unions are supporting the USI’s effort, and the union is asking its members in all sectors to contact their local TDs about third level fees.

To make it easy, the USI has provided several letter templates on its website:

• one for the parents or guardians of third level students
• one for those working in third level institutions
• one for students themselves
• one for second-level students
• one for grandparents of students
• one for alumni or graduates
• one for second-level teachers.

This correspondence campaign comes after last month’s huge ‘#EducationIs’ demonstration, where the chair of IMPACT’s Education Division spoke to a crowd of thousands. Gina O'Brien said: We fully support the USI’s position on no return of fees and no student loans. We see students struggling to get by financially. A return of fees would cripple students. No young person should go out into the world with a debt hanging around their neck.“IMPACT fully supports the USI’s position on no return of fees and no student loans. We see students struggling to get by financially. A return of fees would cripple students. No young person should go out into the world with a debt hanging around their neck.”