Green Party 50 Steps

The steps disappeared a while back for reasons the Paul Gogarty outlined in an interview with Irish Election. But they are now back in full swing. The steps can be found here at 50steps.com.. I am going to have a look at steps 9-12.

Step 9. A comprehensive review of the Transition Year Programme.

When I went to school transition year was known as trans-dos year. Having not done the year I can’t say what it was like but most people seemed not to like it. But that was a few years ago maybe it has evolved maybe it is good, maybe it depends on the school itself. And basically that seems to be the question the greens are asking. Is it any good. Which is a fair enough question.

Step 10. Simplify the existing student support system.

Getting the grant can be a complicated process. It should be just paided directly into the bank account of the students.

Step 11. Measures to assist part-time students

The Green Party is committed to the abolition of part-time fees and will work towards this objective over the first term of Government.

This I think is a great idea. In the current knowledge economy unskilled workers are being squeezed out. Why not give them an opportunity to get a useful qualification.

Step 12 Measures to assist full-time students with living expenses

Here the Greens shoot themselves in the foot in my opinion.

In Government, the Green Party will introduce a loan scheme to assist third level students with living expenses. This will consist of €2,500 per annum in interest-free loans provided to a maximum of 30,000 students,

Which is itself not a bad idea. But as they said in point 10 when they are most needed is at the start of the college year. Why is the loan system different? At the start of the year, students have to pay accommodation often Deposit + first months rent which is of great expense. Also course books and other such things need to be bought. By October much of the costs are already paid and students could already be in debt.