THE shortage of student accommodation has reached a critical level at a critical time, the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) warned today.

LEGAL questions surrounding falling numbers crossing the border to attend college has delayed a new law to speed up grant applications and payments for almost 60,000 students each year.

Students leaving home to start college this September are being advised to secure a place to live as soon as possible.

PROPER Government funding rather than a return to fees is the only way to improve third and fourth level education, rather than a return to college fees, students claimed last night.

The Union of Students in Ireland has warned that the number of PhD students will decrease if college fees are re-introduced.

THE Government must move immediately to extend the right to vote for higher education Seanad members to graduates of all third level colleges, students said yesterday.

THOUSANDS of students are struggling to return to college every autumn because of the Government’s refusal to reintroduce the Summer Jobs Scheme it scrapped four years ago, it was claimed yesterday.