Students want more supports from Government

Anton McNulty visited the Castlebar Campus of GMIT to gauge opinion among students about the upcoming General Election

Patrick McConigley
Donegal
This will be my first opportunity to vote in a General Election but I don’t know if I’ll vote yet. I don’t know what they [politicians] are doing for young people. There needs to be more opportunities and supports for students. For us, the first semester was absolutely crazy, there are not the supports for students, which led to a lot of drop outs. The college has been affected by suicides, there are supports but they are not good enough. If I was to vote … I don’t know who I vote for yet. I know the decisions taken [by the government] were tough and they seem to be working in some ways.

Angela Boyce
Mayo
I will be asking Fine Gael and Labour when they come to my door why they extended the hedgecutting season. That is only an example in the lack of interest they have shown in the environment and conservation. Birds are still nesting in March and August when they are extending the hedgecutting season to. There is no need for it because the local authority already have legal means of dealing with dangerous hedges. I have a million things to raise but that is one thing I will concentrate on. I haven’t been very impressed with the party candidates so I will have a look at a couple of the Independents and see what they have to say for themselves.

Elaine Conroy
Sligo
I think they have forgot about the normal person because there is no incentive to get back to education or to get off your backside and get a job. I have a nine year old and once he reached seven, they cut my income. The extra they cut was just paying my petrol to get here. It is ridiculous. I have a friend who is on an internship but there is not much of an incentive because it is barely covering the cost of her petrol. Why is she bothering to go out to work? They are not looking after the little person.

Ray Murray
Claremorris
I will be voting [but] I still have to decide who I’ll vote for.. One of the main issues I will be voting on will be student services, money for facilities, IT equipment and the general state of disrepair of our campus. A lot of the rooms need upgrading, they are not getting the money. They were out on strike about it last Wednesday. Some students have issues over the grant supports and the amount of money they have to pay and not being entitled to grants. I have a passing interest in current affairs and jobs and investment outside Dublin. Especially highspeed broadband, that is a big thing, if it is delivered it can open up more opportunities.

Jack Kelly
Castlebar
This will be my first General Election to vote in but I wouldn’t be too excited about it. Politics is the last thing young people here really talk about to be honest. I wouldn’t really be talking to my friends about Enda Kenny. There might be a bit of talk coming up to the election, but at the moment it is not something you’d talk about. There was a strike in the college last Wednesday and to be honest I wasn’t too sure what it was about. Speaking for myself I feel students are more concerned about their college work at the moment.

Rachel Corcoran
Islandeady
Health concerns would be the main issue but there hasn’t been much talk about it lately, it’s all about jobs and roads. There seems to be more money going into new roads than healthcare. I am studying nursing and we don’t know what the prospects of getting a job will be like when we leave. Most people in our class are talking about emigrating … going mostly to England and Australia. Lot of the jobs here are looking after the elderly and you wouldn’t more much skills looking after the elderly as you would in emergency. If you get a job they are only two year contracts you cannot be sure of a permanent job.