WATCH: 'I am worried for myself and all of the young people of Ireland'
The government must do more to support young people as they take their "first steps into adulthood", a Westmeath secondary school student told the Seanad Chamber last week.
Speaking during a Seanad na nÓg event in the Upper House about how the cost of living is affecting young people, Mullingar's Tori Trower said that she is worried that she "will not be able to afford life as a student in Ireland".
" I am worried that what and where I study will be determined by my ability to afford the cost. I am worried for myself and all of the young people of Ireland. We are worried for our future.
"As young people we have experienced a particularly challenging time over the last two years due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
"Now we face new challenges. Rising food prices, increasing rent and fuel costs, lack of housing and potential energy shortages.
"The impact of the cost of living crisis is unprecedented and is affecting families and young people, both financially and psychologically.
"Recent research by the National Youth Council of Ireland showed that more than 70 per cent of young people aged 18 to 24 are now considering moving abroad as they believe they would enjoy a better quality of life elsewhere. That's 36 of us here in this room.
"As young people we are looking to our future after we leave school and we want the government to support us as we take our first steps into adulthood.
"We live in a society that encourages third level education, yet third level education is becoming less achievable due to the rising costs of living.
"According to the TUD Student Cost of Living Guide the national average cost of living away from home has risen by eleven per cent over the last two years and the cost of rent for students has risen by a massive 27.5 per cent. This is simply unaffordable.
"We have all heard distressing reports of students sleeping in their cars because accommodation is either unaffordable or unavailable to them.
"My own sister studies in Galway and commutes from Westmeath. She stays in hotels for two nights every week because this is the only solution that she can find.
"Why, due to costs, should students be limited in where and what they can study or whether they can go to college at all?
"Although there are supports such as the SUSI Grant, this is not available to all students. We acknowledge the recent budget announcement that fees for college will decrease in 2023. For those eligible this is a welcome development, but it does not go far enough as it does not address the increased cost of housing and living expenses that all students are facing.
"Our recommendation is that the Seanad supports the introduction of a regular student grant for living costs and accommodation for all young people regardless of their financial circumstances. We ask that this is introduced for the upcoming academic year and delivered by means of regular instalments, for example, monthly or each term.
"Measures should be put in place to ensure that accommodation costs for students do not increase as a result of this extra help.
"This is not a long term solution to the current crisis, but one that supports students now.
"As Nelson Mandella said, 'Education is the most powerful weapon you can use to change the world'.
"If young people are not supported at this important time in their lives, they may miss out on their opportunity to affect change.
"Let not a missed opportunity for young people become our country's missed opportunity. "
Tori Trower, 16, representing Westmeath Comhairle na nÓg addressed the Seanad Chamber on the topic - 'Cost of Student Living' and the barriers this creates for access to higher and further education @ComhairleNa #SeanadnanÓg #Seanad100 #SeeForYourself pic.twitter.com/idb52qCzQI
— Houses of the Oireachtas - Tithe an Oireachtais (@OireachtasNews) November 10, 2022
A student at Wilson's Hospital School, Tori was selected as the Westmeath delegate for Seanad na nÓg which took place on Thursday, November 10, in the Seanad chamber.
The purpose of the event, which was part of the Seanad Éireann centenary programme, was to gather young people from all over Ireland to discuss issues affecting them and to let them take the place of senators for the day.
The recommendation that Tori presented on behalf of her fellow Seanad na nÓg delegates was selected in the closing session to be brought forward to the Seanad for debate in the new year.