Galway native charts vision as students’ union head

Proper funding for higher education is top of the agenda for the Galway graduate who has just taken over at the helm of the country’s third-level student body.

Michael Kerrigan from Kilconly, Tuam, was elected as the next President of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) at their recent Congress in Ennis.

The past pupil of St Patrick’s College, Tuam, and GMIT was overwhelmingly elected by delegates at the four day event.

This isn’t Michael’s first time in student politics; he is a past President of GMIT and is currently Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region with the USI.

The main issue on hand for the new president will be the funding of higher education, where one option is student loans – students can enter college now and pay back later – but Michael said he believed that was a bad choice and he didn’t want to see students stuck in debt after college.

“My main priority will be how higher education will be funded in the future, and to ensure the right choice is made for both students and the economy,” he said.

In addition, the student accommodation strategy is at the forefront for the new president. There has been a small improvement with the lack of houses for students as landlords can rent to them tax-free but it’s still not enough.

“There’s been a crisis for five or six years now, but not much attention has been paid,” said the Galway man.

Following the results of the Citizens’ Assembly, Michael and the USI will also continue campaigning for a replacement of the Eighth Amendment to loosen Ireland’s abortion laws.

The USI will keep working to help students and their mental health.

Their 2014-2017 ‘More Talk, More Action’ strategy has been successful so far and, while the stigma of mental health has decreased, ‘there is a four to six week wait for counseling services in college’, said Michael – and this was something else they planned to tackle.

Congress also saw NUIG student Laoighseach Ní Choistealbha elected Vice President for the Irish Language; NUIG SU President Jimmy McGovern elected as Vice President for the Border, Midlands and Western Region – and GMIT SU President Amy Kelly is the new Vice President for Campaigns.