The motion text is as follows:
“That the members of the Students’ Union of the National University of Ireland, Galway (“the Union”) authorise the Executive Committee to negotiate with University authorities an increase in the Student Levy payable annually by each individual student on registration subject to the following conditions:-
That the said increase, which would be payable in addition to the current Student Levy, will total €40.00 per student.
That payment of the said increase will commence in September 2006.
That the said increase of €40.00 be apportioned as follows:-
- €10.00 be allocated to the Union, to be further allocated as follows:-
- 20% be allocated to the provision of entertainment in an alcohol-free environment on campus;
- 20% be allocated to Seirbhisi Comhaltas na MacLeinn, Ollscoil na Gaillimhe Teoranta as a contribution to that company’s publications. In the event of the dissolution of that company, this allocation will be directed towards the cost of the Union’s publications by whatever means deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee;
The remaining 60% be allocated to the representational activities of the Union to be used as deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee;
- €10.00 be allocated to CCG Aonad Slainte do Mhic Leinn Teoranta (Student Health Unit) to be used as deemed appropriate by the Board of Directors of that company. In the event of the dissolution of that company, this allocation will be directed towards the cost of providing a student health centre on campus, by whatever means deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee;
- €10.00 be allocated to the NUI Galway Sport and Recreation Union for distribution to the recognised sports clubs by whatever means deemed appropriate by that body;
- €10.00 be allocated to the NUI Galway University Societies’ Committee for distribution to the recognised student societies by whatever means deemed appropriate by that body.
That the said increase be index-linked in line with the current mechanism used in the annual calculation of the Student Levy.
That the said increase be payable until such time as the Union decides by referendum of its members to alter or terminate the terms of payment of the Student Levy.”
Referendum on Student Levy FAQs
There was no loan to build the Sports Centre. The portion of construction costs to be covered by the student levy was €15.7m. Upon completion of the Sports Centre, the University paid this money from its reserves and is being “re-paid” by the student levy every year. The only loan was from the university to itself. The University than applied a 5% interest rate. In March 2019, after enquiries from the Students’ Union, the University reduced the interest rate to 1.704% which is in line with actual loans the university has from the European Investment Bank.
There was no contract. The terms of the levy were payment for a period “not to exceed eighteen years”. Four years after the referendum, the 5% interest rate was added by the University. This was outlined at meetings of the Finance Resources Committee. The Students’ Union has one of thirteen seats on that committee. The University claims that because the interest was described at that committee, and because the SU President sits on that committee, it forms an “implied contract”. However, there is no record of any agreement that a 5% interest charge would be paid by students. The notion of an implied contract is simply ridiculous.
There is no bad debt because there is no debt. The University has collected €20.9m to cover a €15.7m cost. If the University has forecasted an additional €5.5m income from the student levy, this is a mistake that can be corrected on its own books. It already wiped €1.5m off the imaginary debt when it dropped the interest rate in 2019. What cuts were implemented to cover that?
Threatening cuts is just scaremongering by the University. The Sports Centre contributes €100k to the university in licence fees (similar to rent) every year. Where are the additional services provided by that? Over €250k is collected by the University in fines for the late payment of fees. Where are the additional services provided by that?
The University has reserves in excess of €200m. Don’t be fooled by the suggestion that university management will need a begging bowl because students have figured out that the €100 sports centre levy is no longer required.
The Áras na Mac Léinn levy was introduced in the late 1990’s to pay for the construction of Áras na Mac Léinn. The current AML Levy is to contribute to the running costs of the building. However, the fund is generally used for lots of other costs. Also, it seems strange to directly charge students for the running cost of one particular building. The University funds the running costs of all other buildings.
The Project Fund is currently funded by the University (€500k), the Student Levy (€321k) and a contribution from licence fees, similar to rent, paid by Students’ Union services (€60k). Although the Project Fund provides support to many popular services, these services should be provided without students paying an annual levy. The proposed levy will reduce the student contribution from €321k to €82k. There is no reason for the university to reduce its funding and the contribution from Students’ Union Services will also remain. In total, the Project Fund will still have €612,000 to spend every year. Clubs and Societies activities will still benefit from the Project Fund – in addition to the extra funding which they will receive.
The Student Levy has been an issue for many years. The past four SU Executive Committees have raised the issue of the sports centre element of the levy in particular, but with limited success. In March 2019, the university did reduce the interest rate is charges from 5% to 1.704%. Last year, a Working Group was formed to review the levy and in the past year the SU conducted a survey of students to gather further information. In November 2020, SU Council mandated the Union to call a referendum with the proposed levy. The University’s only suggestion was to reduce the sports centre element of the levy, but to charge it for a longer period.
You can find a copy of the NUI Galway Student Levy Report HERE.
You can find a copy of the NUI Galway Sport Centre Levy Report HERE.
