Thousands of students at technological universities across the country have walked out of lectures in protest at the lack of parity across the sector.
The students' unions of technological universities say they are appalled by the latest Budget and are calling for fairness in funding and equality in teaching.
Students walked out of classes, tutorials, labs and lectures at midday, saying they have been left with no choice but to take direct action to highlight these issues to the Government.
Watch: Students at TU Shannon join nationwide walkout protest
"When Technological Universities were proposed, students and teaching staff were promised new opportunities, broadening of the university experience and a revival of the student experience," Technological University of the Shannon Students' Union President Dara Lenihan said at the protest in Athlone.
"Instead, students and staff alike are experiencing the mergers as petty cost-cutting measures.
"We’re not prepared to accept that our TUs and our members are destined for a second class, and this walk-out is intended to signal students’ support for a vision of a better future for technological universities."
Speaking at the walkout in Limerick, Deputy President Gearóid Folan said students are done dealing with the inequalities that exist within the Higher Education Sector.
"For far too long now students in TUs have been neglected by government policy, we have seen legacy universities time after time announce new accommodation, capital development, new Irish language and teaching courses and increased PHD stipends but none of this can be seen in technological universities and this is down to a lack of ambition from central government."
They are calling for the implementation of a full TU Borrowing Framework, allowing all technological universities access to capital funding from central government for the construction of purpose-built student accommodation.
Students also want an increase in postgraduate stipend funding to ensure payment of the full €25,000 research stipend, as previously promised, as well as full implementation and funding of professorships within the technological university sector.
