Santa to present 'bad" TDs with coal

national | politics / elections | news report

Thursday December 21, 2006 14:05

by Limerick Post

THE Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will tomorrow picket TDs outside the Dáil in a Christmas-themed rally against the under-funding of Third Level education.

Enda Kenny TD is given coal by Santa

THE Union of Students in Ireland (USI) will tomorrow picket TDs outside the Dáil in a Christmas-themed rally against the under-funding of Third Level education.

Members of the Union revealed that the students will be led in the demonstration by a costumed Santa Claus - the alter ego of USI President Colm Hamrogue - who will present 'naughty' TDs with coal.

USI President Colm Hamrogue said: "As the traditional Christmas reward for 'naughty behaviour', coal is 'just deserts' for TDs’ neglect of students on low and moderate incomes.

The protest will be accompanied by a letter-writing campaign marking the 12 Days of Christmas.

"Every TD will soon receive a series of 12 letters from the Union. The letters encourage TDs to reflect on 12 serious hardships caused by under-funding.

"This Christmas, struggling students have enlisted Santa’s support to illustrate their anger at TDs’ failure to allocate adequate support to young people in education and the facilities they need." continued Mr. Hamrogue.

"We decided on coal as the most appropriate Christmas gift for Santa to give to TDs because of issues like the Registration Fee, inadequate grants and ramshackle student accommodation.

USI Education Officer Bernadette Farrell said: "Santa is angry in part because student grants are woefully inadequate. This leaves students on moderate incomes pauperised in many respects – or prevented from going to college in the first place.

"We urge TDs to use the 12 Days of Christmas to review and revise their policies, by increasing the grant, abolishing fees for part-time students, and legislating for childcare facilities in every college.”

The USI added that the TDs are expected to maintain a low profile, but would still be presented with coal symbolically in the event of their absence from the protest site.