Mr. Shari Irfan:

I thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and members of the committee for the opportunity to speak to them today. I am the uachtarán of the Irish Second-Level Students Union. As a national representative body for school students in Ireland, one of the core elements of our work is ensuring that students remain core stakeholders in the decisions that affect them. We strive to represent, uplift and defend the voices of students in second level education.

Speaking to our members, I am aware that there are genuine challenges around the mobility of students seeking to study both here in Ireland and in Northern Ireland. The challenges present themselves in a number of ways, often linking with one another. Students both North and South find the other's application process to be extremely daunting. There are two different approaches to two very different systems. For example, the concept of doing a personal statement for UCAS is somewhat bewildering to students in Ireland, who are used to purely relying on points to enter third level. Students need support, as they are only judged in the leaving certificate system on academic performance and are not used to writing about themselves. Ensuring that there are standardised resources available to students and guidance counsellors North and South is extremely important. Having clear and understandable language for both processes would reduce anxiety.

As we are all acutely aware, as the pressures around the cost of education grows and from talking to students on the ground, I find myself asking whether becoming a college student is even affordable. The stress that students face around finding accommodation is immense. The cost and commutability, as well as accommodation are among the lead factors in what students put at the top of their CAO. From talking to students, it is not just about the points race any more. It is about not bankrupting their families. We must move toward purpose-built and affordable student accommodation to ensure second level students transitioning into third level are housed. As a nation, we so often talk about how difficult it is to acquire and retain healthcare professionals within the HSE. Yet at the same time, the system we operate under makes it harder for these students in Ireland to access these courses as the cost for them soars. As this happens, students and their families both in Northern Ireland and Ireland struggle to come to terms with the cost.

In my role as uachtarán of the ISSU, I spent the latter half of the last year travelling up and down the country meeting students on a regional level. When I asked students what was the issue that affected them directly, most of them said public transport. The use of efficient and affordable public transport is an indispensable aspect of student life. It is yet another area of challenge where students have to make a decision on where they want to pursue their studies not on the basis of the course they want but rather on whether they will make it to their 9 a.m. lecture on time. An all-island approach is needed to create an efficient public transport system that ensures accessibility and affordability for all who live on the island. Ease of transport gives more opportunities to these students not only to decide to study in the North or the South but also to engage with one another through their studies. North-South mobility does not just affect whether someone studies but how students develop their relationships.

I remember distinctly looking at my options and having that conversation that so many young people my age have had with their parents about where they are looking to go to university. As I sat down with my parents, who are in the Gallery today, one thing was for certain. The option to study in Northern Ireland was not a reality for me. As an immigrant, for me to have even considered applying in the North would mean I would have had to restart my immigration process in Northern Ireland, which is simply not a reality for students like me. No young person, regardless of where they are from, should have to cross barriers their peers do not encounter to get their education. The visa application process must be made more streamlined. We need equitable and efficient visa access on both sides of the Border, thereby welcoming students from all backgrounds. Ultimately the issues we see around the mobility of students in Northern Ireland are not practical issues but are human issues. It is not as simple as making sure we have the right type of transport to get an education. It is about creating a space in which the gaps are bridged between communities and an understanding is created between young people. We can only do that by changing the culture around the conversation by cultivating an inclusive environment that ensures that students from all walks of life feel a sense of belonging.

In conclusion, addressing the differences in students' experiences between Ireland and Northern Ireland requires a collective effort. By streamlining the application process, providing adequate resources to understand each other's system, tackling accommodation challenges, addressing the cost of education, improving public transport, ensuring fair visa access and promoting integration, we can make a right step in the right direction. I wish to affirm to members that the ISSU wants to engage with stakeholders. Partnership is what we need. I wish to express to the joint committee the ISSU's enthusiasm to work closely with it and its members in the future. I again thank the Cathaoirleach Gníomhach and members for the opportunity and I look forward to answering members' questions.