The National University of Ireland, Maynooth (NUIM) Students’ Union, has rejoined the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The organization is the sole national representative body for almost 300,000 students in Ireland. It campaigns for the rights of students, on a range of student concerns including grants, and the abolition of third level fees. 

Each institution has an allocated number of representatives, based on student population size, and these representatives attend Congress each year, to decide on policies.

The USI President Peter Mannion said he was ‘delighted that the students of NUIM have decided that the Union of Students in Ireland is a worthwhile investment for their future. We welcome back NUIM to the organization wholeheartedly. Having NUIM back in USI will bring about a new and enthusiastic viewpoint to the union. As we address important issues such as the funding of Higher Education and restrictions in the Student Maintenance Grant- we are delighted that we will advocate for our students as a more unified movement.’

The USI was founded in 1959 and is the only national student representative body with a seat on the Higher Education Authority and other national bodies. The Minister for Education is also mandated to meet with the President and Education Officer at least three times a year. 

Two of Ireland’s seven universities’ SUs are not members, namely Dublin City University (who disaffiliated in 2002) and the University of Limerick. Other Unions have reaffiliated and disaffiliated at different times since the USI’s foundation. 

In 2002/03, both UCD and Trinity attempted to disaffiliate, but both attempts were defeated at referendum. 

Many past officers of the USI have gone on to prominent positions within Irish society, for example Chief Justice John Murray was president in 1966/67 and broadcaster Joe Duffy held the post in 1983/84. Many others used the USI as a springboard for later political careers, such as Pat Rabitte, Mark Durkan, and Eamon Gilmore.

Some argue that membership of the USI should be compulsory for all unions so that all students will have a national voice, however there is opposition in some colleges to the idea of funding an organization that doesn’t do enough for individual institutions. Most of the USI’s funding comes from the €5 subscription that each full-time student pays.