#WheresMyLevy | Members Updates
Monday, 26 September 2022 | Maynooth University announced that construction on a new Student Centre project has been terminated, following a decision by the University’s Governing Authority.
Monday, 26 September 2022 | MSU issued their Statement Against the Termination of the Construction of the Student Centre Levy Project.
Tuesday, 27 September 2022 | BBC News | Maynooth University student centre project cancelled.
Tuesday, 27 September 2022 | Leinster Leader | KILDARE: Work on new student centre at Maynooth University is stopped due to cost issues.
Tuesday, 27 September 2022 | Kildare Now | KILDARE: Work on new student centre at Maynooth University is stopped due to cost issues.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | The MSU President wrote to the Chair and members of the Student Centre Project Control Board (PCB) seeking a meeting of the PCB to discuss the decision of the University’s Governing Authority and to consider the next steps in relation to the Student Centre levy funded project.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | Newstalk | 'I feel like I've been robbed' - Maynooth students anger over abandoned centre.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | Irish Times | Maynooth University terminates construction of new student centre project.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | Irish Examiner | Backlash as Maynooth University terminates new student centre plan due to spiralling costs.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | RTE.ie | Maynooth University stops construction of new student centre over 'rapidly escalating costs'.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | The termination of the construction of the Student Centre levy project is covered on RTÉ News: Six One with the MSU President, Niall Daly, representing the concerns of the student body.
Wednesday, 28 September 2022 | Head Topics | Maynooth University scraps new student centre over cost.
Thursday, 29 September 2022 | Catherine Murphy TD wrote to the at Committee of Public Accounts (PAC) - a standing committee of Dáil Éireann – asking for the University to provide a full statement to address the three aspects of their relation to terminate the project and if the Comptroller and Auditor General (C&AG) would brief the committee on historic financial statements relating to Maynooth University in the context of the way in which student contributions to the project were accounted for and if a liability now arises for the University in respect of claims for refunds and or reimbursement.
Thursday, 29 September 2022 | Highland Radio | Anger as Student Centre plan is dropped by Maynooth University.
Thursday, 29 September 2022 | Senator Mark Wall raises the issue in Seanad Éireann.
Friday, 30 September 2022 | MSU issued a Follow Up Statement Against the Termination of the Construction of the Student Centre Levy Project addressing the disingenuous and misleading claims being made by Maynooth University on the issue.
Monday, 3 October 2022 | MSU launches its Online #WheresMyLevy petition calling on the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (FHERIS), Simon Harris TD, to support the students of Maynooth in these demands and to aid them in bringing them to the attention of Maynooth University.
Monday, 3 October 2022 | The MSU President wrote to MU President requesting an urgent meeting to discuss the Student Centre project and for a fresh commitment to be made to reaffirming the University’s commitment to a Student Centre project to be funded from the levy and to ensuring its prioritisation over other capital developments on campus. The earliest time that the MU President could meet with the MSU President was Tuesday, 11 October 2022.
Monday, 3 October 2022 | The MSU President wrote to the Bursar seeking a freeze to the levy with no increases to the charge for a period of at least five academic years beginning 2023-24. The MSU President received no reply.
Tuesday, 4 October 2022 | MSU launches its paper #WheresMyLevy petition calling on Maynooth University to: 1) publicly state their commitments to delivering a student Centre and ensure its prioritisation over other capital developments on campus, 2) freeze the levy, with no increases to the charge for a period of at least five academic years beginning 2023-24, and 3) be transparent in its communication as to how the student levy is being used, prove their commitments to joint oversight of the fund, and work in good faith with MSU and the students of Maynooth to regain their trust.
Wednesday, 5 October 2022 | The MSU President wrote to members of the Oireachtas outlining seeking support for the students of Maynooth (who are constituents of the members contacted).
Wednesday, 5 October 2022 | The MSU President received confirmation that Reada Cronin TD will raise the issue in Dáil Éireann.
Wednesday, 5 October 2022 | The MSU President received confirmation that Catherine Connolly TD has submitted a Parliamentary question to Minister Harris.
Wednesday, 5 October 2022 | The MSU President received confirmation that Senator David Norris has signed our #WheresMyLevy petition.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | The MSU President received confirmation that Aodhán Ó Ríordáin TD has submitted a Parliamentary question to Minister Harris.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | The MSU President received confirmation that Bernard J. Durkan TD has contacted Minister Harris on MSU’s behalf regarding this issue.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | MSU organises #WheresMyLevy #LevyWalkOut with hundreds of students walking out in support of the #WheresMyLevy campaign.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | Irish Examiner | Maynooth University students to stage walkout in row over levy.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | Hot Press | Maynooth University students stage walk-out over failed construction of new centre.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | iRadio | Maynooth students stage walk-out in row over cancelled student centre plans.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | RTE.ie | Maynooth Students' Union walk out over halt to new centre.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | SocialistParty.ie | Maynooth student centre: We were robbed – what should we do about the €150 levy?.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | Catherine Murphy TD raises the issue at the PAC. C&AG informed the PAC that they would prefer not to offer a view until they examined it fully in the context of the 2021-22 annual financial statements but commented that the issues that the Deputy outlined are issues that do deserve answers and that the C&AG will be examining this as part of the audit of the University. The C&AG stated that in term of the way that the student levy is accounted for the student levy income is taken as an income into the University and that there isn’t a restricted reserve in which that money is being accumulated. The C&AG stated that there was an accumulated fund as far back as 2014 which was being earmarked for expenditure on the centre. The Chair of the PAC suggested that the PAC would write to the University seeking an explanation on this matter.
Thursday, 6 October 2022 | The MSU President met with Minister Harris to outline the concerns of the students of May.
Friday, 7 October 2022 | The MSU President received confirmation that James Lawless TD has submitted topic for debate in the Dáil Éireann next week.
Friday, 7 October 2022 | Dublin Live | Angry Maynooth students stage walk-out after proposed campus centre is scrapped.
Tuesday, 11 October 2022 | The MSU President met with the President of MU to discuss the petition demands.
Wednesday, 12 October 2022 | MSU in collaboration with MU Literary & Debating Society facilitate a “This House Would Reject the Student Levy” debate.
Wednesday, 12 October 2022 | MSU issued a members’ update stating that to date MU has not agreed to the demands of the students of Maynooth and that the campaign will continue.
Thursday, 13 October 2022 | MSU President, VP Education / Deputy President, and VP Welfare & Equality Dáil Éireann to watch James Lawless TD raise this topic for debate and engage with members of the Oireachtas.
Friday, 14 October 2022 | MSU announces what’s next for #WheresMyLevy:
- We will be releasing a ‘Student Experience On Campus’ survey to assist the MSU President in meeting with the Maynooth University Bursar to discuss Maynooth University’s short-term interventions on campus. We will be on the ground asking students to take part from Monday, 17 October - Friday, 21 October.
- We will be on the ground with the ‘Support our Students, Build our Building’ petition from Monday, 17 October - Friday, 21 October. If you haven’t signed it yet, make sure you do as every signature gets us a step closer to our demands.
- We will be holding a #WheresMyLevy Q&A session for all students during the week. This will provide an opportunity for you to get up to date with our actions, have your questions answered, and learn how you can get involved with all the next steps.
- We are welcoming students to our volunteer group to help us promote and action all the steps involved with the #WheresMyLevy campaign. If you are interested in joining, reach out to the page or email president@msu.ie.
- The MSU President will be meeting with the Maynooth University Bursar on Friday, 21 October.
- Reminder to save the date: 25.10.22
More to follow …