The Union of Students in Ireland

Lobbying Organisation The Union of Students in Ireland

Date published 21 Sep, 2020

Relevant Matter Matters involving public funds

Public Policy Area Social Protection

Period 1 May, 2020 to 31 Aug, 2020

Specific Details COVID & post covid protections for students

Intended results Changes in policy and investment in student supports

Name of person primarily responsible for lobbying on this activity Lorna Fitzpatrick

Did any Designated Public Official(DPO) or former Designated Public Official(DPO) carry out lobbying activities on your behalf in relation to this return? You must include yourself, and answer Yes, if you are a current DPO or a DPO at any time in the past. (What is a Designated Public Official?) No

Did you manage or direct a grassroots campaign? No

Was this lobbying done on behalf of a client? No

Lobbying activity

The following activities occurred for this specific Subject Matter Area.

Email (1)

Key asks: 1.Access to support for students who were due to be on placement (which has since been cancelled) and who had left jobs in preparation. 2. Access to the COVID-19 payment for those on insufficient part-time work 3. For income earned during this time to not be taken into account for payments such as Back to Education Allowance. 4. All employees to be paid the living wage. Post COVID-19 1. Remove the lower Under 25 rate of Jobseekers Allowance 2. Reform the Social welfare system to bring in line with the cost of living and allow students access to the support.

Designated public officials lobbied

The following DPOs were lobbied during this return period on this specific Subject Matter Area. These DPOs were involved in at least one of the Lobbying Activities listed above, but not necessarily all of them. As returns are specific to a Subject Matter Area the above Lobbying Activities may be associated with multiple returns.

Regina Doherty Minister (Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection)