Fifteen students, who were occupying the Department of Tourism, have been arrested and taken to Pearse Street Garda Station. Ten students are currently occupying the boardroom of the Department of the Environment. Students from around the country occupied the offices of the two Government departments in their campaign for increased student grants since lunchtime today. They are demanding that the student grant, on average £49 per week, be increased to social welfare levels in Wednesday's Budget. The Union of Students in Ireland has calculated that this increase would cost less than 2.5p of every pound of the budget surplus.
Julian de Spáinn, President of USI said that the militant approach was necessary to draw the public's attention to the hardship faced by the majority of students. He said that the situation had now become untenable and in most cases the grant payment does not even cover the rent. Current statistics show that a quarter of students leave college without any qualification. Mr de Spáinn claimed that in many cases financial difficulties are to blame. He said that the students would occupy the offices until the Government addressed their grievances.
Speaking from the occupation inside the Customs House, Cian O'Callaghan, Campaigns Co-ordinator with USI said that third level students around the country were ignored by the Minister for Education when they met with him to explain the situation students are facing. Mr O'Callaghan said over 17,000 students have taken to the streets around the country calling for an increase in the student grant. He pledged that the campaign will continue until the Government acts on the issue.
