2024 WEL 1 Mandate on the provision and distribution of menstrual products. ***
Proposed by CMLOnG
Comhdháil notes with concern
A person who has a period will on average have 507 periods throughout their lifetime and will spend an average of €8100 in a lifetime on menstrual products.
Comhdháil notes with concern
Students’ Unions have quite often borne the financial burden of buying menstrual products for students and distributing these, and that this financial burden disproportionately affects smaller Unions with lesser budgets.
Comhdháil also notes with concern
New menstrual products such as menstrual cups and period underwear are still taxed at a higher rate of 23%, making them less affordable. Period poverty disproportionately affects student groups. The National Strategy for Women and Girls has identified students as an at-risk group of period poverty.
Comhdháil believes
That these products should be provided free of charge as a necessary provision of healthcare for anyone who needs them, and should be widely available across campuses, nationwide.
Comhdháil therefore mandates
The Vice President for Welfare and Vice President for Equality and Citizenship to campaign the governments, HSE and NHS for free menstrual products to be provided nationally, North and South of the border.
Comhdháil also mandates
The Vice President for Welfare and Vice President for Equality to collaborate with period product disrupters and key stakeholders to create a streamlined process in which Student Unions can avail of menstrual products at a substantially reduced charge, with focus on supporting smaller unions and unions who do not have a free menstrual product scheme in place yet, but to continue to lobby for products to be available for no charge at all, similar to the free national contraception scheme. The provision of these products should encompass a wide variety of choice.
SUPPORTING CONTENT
Mandate on the provision and distribution of menstrual products.
2024 WEL 2 Student Mental Health Funding Policy ***
Proposed by Vice President for Welfare
Comhdháil Notes
The important role campus counselling services play in the lives of students. On-campus counselling services do trojan work, often without adequate resources.
Comhdháil Believes
That USI has an important role to play in lobbying for additional resources for campus counselling services. There is a need for USI to have a policy regarding the funding of student mental health services so that we can lobby politicians and speak on campus counselling funding in the media. PCHEI, the representative body of Psychological Counsellors in Higher Education in Ireland has provided invaluable information and support in informing USI’s student mental health funding policy.
Comhdháil Mandates
The adoption of the USI Student Mental Health Funding Policy, and that this policy be reviewed by the Vice President for Welfare each year.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The USI Vice President for Welfare to continue to work with PCHEI in the area of student mental health and collaborate on areas of common interest.
SUPPORTING CONTENT
USI Mental Health Funding Policy
2024 WEL 3 Inclusivity of Free Contraceptive Services in Third Level Institutions ***
Proposed by DCU Students’ Union
Comhdháil Notes
That the HSE Free contraception service, available for people aged 17 to 31 years, is a massive benefit to students across the Republic of Ireland. This can be of extra benefit to students when these services are offered within their third level institutions health centres. However, the structure of third level institutions’ health centres greatly differ from each other. This means that health centres that privately hire in their medical staff from external agencies cannot access the HSE free contraceptive services scheme, which greatly disadvantages the students in these particular third level institutions.
Comhdháil Believes
That all HEIs should have equal access to engage with this scheme. Regardless of health and wellbeing frameworks within the individual HEIs students should be able to access national schemes within their higher education setting.
Comhdháil Mandates
The USI VP Welfare to conduct a report on access to the free contraceptive scheme within each HEI and brings the results of this to the attention of the HEA, HSE and government officials when engaging in discussions around sexual health in HEIs.
SUPPORTING CONTENT
Inclusivity of free contraceptive services in third level institutions
2024 WEL 4 SUSI Grant Reform 2024 **
Proposed by Vice President for Welfare
Comhdháil Notes
Equity of access to higher education is a core component of USI’s work. The USI SUSI policy 2021-2024 has been used to inform our lobbying, particularly our pre-budget submission. However, this policy needs to be updated.
Comhdháil Proposes
The adoption of the USI SUSI Grant Reform Policy 2024. This is an update to our 2021-2024 policy. Policy on thresholds and rates has been clarified. Policy on residence, estrangement, reckonable income, document translation, dependent children and more have been expanded upon. Any outdated policy has been removed.
Comhdháil Further Notes
This policy is not exhaustive and does not preclude additional policies or mandates regarding SUSI from being adopted by Comhdháil/National Council. Of note, there is specific policy coming forward regarding postgraduate SUSI grants as per 2023 WEL 4: Reforming SUSI: Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduates. Out of a desire to avoid policy duplication, postgraduate SUSI grants are not covered within this paper’s scope.
Comhdháil Mandates
The adoption of the USI SUSI Grant Reform Policy 2024.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The Vice President for Welfare and the Vice President for Academic Affairs to run a public consultation with students to update USI’s SUSI policy each year. This can be via a town hall event, survey, social media, working groups and/or National Council. Based on the consultation, the Vice President for Welfare and the Vice President for Academic Affairs should update USI’s SUSI policy.
SUPPORTING CONTENT
2024 WEL 5 Men’s Health: Movember *
Proposed by Vice President for Welfare
Comhdháil Notes
That many male students experience specific health challenges, which deserve tailored campaigns and advocacy (Men’s Health in Numbers, MHFI). These include but are not limited to late presentation to health services, higher mortality rates, and a higher risk for developing preventable diseases. The Men’s Health Forum in Ireland (MHFI) is a charitable all-Ireland organisation which works to enhance the health and well-being of men and boys. Our engagement in this forum to date has ensured we are up to date on developments that benefit male students.
Comhdháil Further Notes
Many students’ unions across Ireland participate in the annual “Movember” campaign to raise money for charity and promote men’s health. In 2023 USI became involved in the “Movember” campaign and provided support to member organisations for their own “Movember” campaigns, particularly through our “OpenUp” mental health campaign. This has been a positive, fun and engaging way to promote male students’ health, including mental health.
Comhdháil Mandates
For the USI Vice President for Welfare to continue engagement with the Men’s Health Forum Ireland.
Comhdháil Also Mandates
That the USI Coiste Gnó supports the international “Movember” campaign with a focus on both physical and mental health. Specifically, that the Vice President for Welfare and Vice President for Campaigns co-ordinate “Movember” resources with interested member organisations. The required resources are at the discretion of officers and Welfare Working group but could include social media graphics, fake moustaches, cardboard cutouts, competition facilitation, etc. USI should host a planning meeting by early October to establish interest and get sign-ups.
Comhdháil Further Mandates
The VP Dublin, the VP South and the VP BMW to reach out to Students’ Unions in their region to provide support for “Movember” campaigns where this is wanted.
2024 WEL 6 The USI X Student Sport Ireland
Proposed by TUS SU
Comhdháil Notes:
The USI are the largest representative body for students in Ireland. College in Ireland is much more than just the academic, Clubs & Socs are a huge part of the college experience. Where the USI has made great strides in representing students involved in societies the same cannot be said for that of clubs.
Comhdháil further notes:
That the governing body for sport in third-level education on the island of Ireland is Student Sport Ireland. SSI works alongside the national sporting bodies as well as international bodies to help provide students with the best access to sports as possible.
Comhdháil Believes:
That the USI should work alongside SSI to promote their activities to all students.
Comhdháil Therefore Mandates:
That the VP Welfare develop a relationship and work alongside SSI to give ample student representation for all students on the island of Ireland
Repeal: (2021 UO NC7: Student Sport Ireland)
2024 WEL 7 Problem gambling in students
Proposed by TUS SU
Comhdháil notes:
Ireland is currently in the grips of an unrecognized epidemic, 1 in 10 third-level students in Ireland have a gambling problem and The Irish Institute of Public Health found that adolescent gambling in Ireland is 2-3 times greater than that of adults.
Comhdháil further notes:
Gambling addiction has grown in recent years largely due to the increase in online betting apps, Half of people who bet through their smartphones become problem gamblers, according to a recent University of Galway study. According to the ESRI, 46% of all gambling industry revenue in Ireland comes from people who gamble harmfully or problematically.
Comhdháil notes with regret:
That there has been little to no work or awareness brought to this issue by the Union of Students in Ireland.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
For the VP Welfare & VP Campaigns to run a campaign and work with relevant organizations to highlight the negative impact of gambling and to highlight supports and resources available to those who suffer from gambling addictions through the campaign.
Comhdháil also Mandates:
The regional officers, VP Dublin, VP South, VP BMW to highlight supports around the time of student race days to Member Organizations by offering them information and resources to help students with gambling addictions.
Comhdháil Further Mandates:
The VP Welfare with the help of VP Campaigns to lobby the government to restrict the use of online gambling apps and reduce the risk of problem gambling in students. The VP Welfare & VP Campaigns at their discretion may liaise with similar organizations to assist in these lobby efforts.
2024 WEL 8 Need for increased supports in HEIs for students who require additional supports (Content Warning)
Proposed by Maynooth Students’ Union
Comhdháil recognises with concern:
A worrying trend exists where diverse backgrounds are targeted solely for recruitment, with promises of tailored support that often vanish once enrolled at Higher Education Institutions (HEIs). This leads to concerning dropout rates.
Comhdháil expresses with disappointment:
Students facing complex needs, including trauma, experience widespread neglect within HEIs. Examples include denial of counselling access due to perceived complexity.
Comhdháil emphasises:
Urgent action is needed for comprehensive support encompassing childcare, bereavement, disability, mental health, financial hardship, and more within HEIs. Student services must address both academic and personal challenges, with awareness and guidance extended to all.
Comhdháil acknowledges:
Personal challenges like childcare, finances, trauma, and other complex issues significantly impact academic performance, creating undue pressure for vulnerable students.
Comhdháil therefore mandates:
The Vice President Welfare is tasked with collaborating with Member Organisations (MOs) to identify and report pressing student concerns across Higher Education Institutions (HEIs), including personal challenges such as childcare, finances, trauma, and more. The information and data gathered should be formatted into a report that can be utilised both by USI for national lobbying and by USI member organisations for local and institutional lobbying in this area.
Comhdháil further mandates:
The Vice President Welfare develop a comprehensive resource pack offering information on various personal challenges faced by students, including, but not limited to, recognising and managing stress, anxiety, and depression; identifying and dealing with unhealthy relationships; seeking support for mental health concerns; navigating financial difficulties and accessing available resources; managing childcare responsibilities and balancing studies.
2024 WEL 9 Anti-Smoking and Anti-Vaping Policy
Proposed by VP BMW
Comhdháil Notes:
The widespread knowledge of the harms of smoking.
Comhdháil further notes:
While the long-term effects of vaping are not yet known, in the short-term vaping causes inflammation or irritation in the lungs. This is linked to scarring and narrowing of air vessels (Cleveland Clinic, 2024). Additionally, a 2019/20 outbreak of EVALI (e-cigarette, or vaping, product use associated lung injury) killed at least 68 and hospitalised thousands (Cleveland Clinic, 2024).
Comhdháil further notes:
Circa 1 in 5 people under 18 are currently vaping (HSE, 2022). The bright colouring and variety of flavours are particularly marketable to young people.
Comhdháil further notes:
The environmental damage caused by disposable vapes, including lithium entering water tables. Furthermore, there is no standard for the ethical sourcing of lithium.
Comhdháil Therefore Mandates:
The VP for Welfare to lobby the HSE and other relevant government parties to maintain their anti-smoking campaigns and to incorporate information on the dangers of vaping.
Comhdháil Further Mandates:
The VP for Welfare to lobby the Minister for Health and the HSE to ensure vapes are in unbranded packaging with health warning, as cigarettes are already.
Comhdháil Further Mandates:
The VP for Equality and Citizenship to lobby the Department for the Environment, Climate and Communications for greater recycling facilities for disposable vapes and an accompanying information campaign on the dangers of improper vape disposal.