SOUNDTRACK
IRELAND’S FINANCIAL SITUATION BUSINESS 14
OF THE YEAR
IN SPORT WHO’S THE SOUNDEST OF THEM ALL?
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A ROUND UP OF THIS YEAR’S ACHIEVEMENTS SPORTS FEATURES 22
STARING INTO THE ABYSS
PROF. COLIN KEARNEY ON HIS AMBITION FOR COLLEGE FEATURES 10
TRINITY NEWS Est 1953
Most students will emigrate
Campus goes into lockdown after snowfall Aine Pennello & Caitriona Murphy Staff Reporter and College News Editor
TRINITY COLLEGE was brought to a standstill last week as a result of the bad weather. Classes were cancelled from Wednesday to Saturday and access to campus was heavily restricted. On Wednesday 1 December, the College’s annual Open Day for prospective students was
ff 85% of TCD students plan to emigrate ff Lecturers advising students to leave ff Unemployment rate has tripled Caitriona Murphy & Michael Storn College News Editor and Contributing Writer
IN AN online poll conducted this week by Trinity News, 85% of Trinity students have said that they intend to emigrate. The poll asked students what they thought of emigration, whether they intended to stay or leave and if the current state of the economy had an effect on their decision. It revealed that “I can’t understand why everyone in this country doesn’t emigrate.” – Liza Cox many blame the economic crisis for driving them out of Ireland, believing that there are no jobs available for them once they graduate. 87 percent of students polled were in third year of college or above, thus facing imminent graduation. Those who intend to leave, stating the economy as a factor in the decision, highlighted several reasons that encouraged them to leave. Many highlighted the lack of jobs and career prospects in Ireland for graduates. Others stated that they did not wish to stay In Ireland to fix the mistakes of older generations. Liza Cox, a Junior Sophister student, commented, “At the moment I can’t understand why everyone in this country doesn’t emigrate. I heard someone saying recently that when a ship is sinking the rats are the first to leave which is funny but not very fair”. Other students also commented that lecturers have been advising them to emigrate.
Michael Gambon’s visit to the Phil was cancelled due to the weather conditions.
However 28 percent of respondents stated that the economy had not affected their decision to stay in or leave Ireland. Many believe that the media has grossly exaggerated the emigration issue and that students have always been interested in travel. Jimmy Cleary, a SS student said that “I think it’s a positive thing to do, regardless of necessity”, whilst Ashley Cooke stated that “People gain skills that may be hard to acquire in Ireland”. Others commented that Ireland has a history and culture of emigration. “I think young people from poor countries throughout history have had to emigrate and it became part of Irish culture, especially after the famine” said Iseult Mc Lister. Many students have always intended to move abroad for a period of time after graduation but the economic climate may affect how long they stay away. Of those who intend to remain in the country, respondents highlighted a desire to make a career and life at home and a responsibility to help the country. “Irish people have a duty to stand by their country and gain Irish
cancelled due to “adverse weather conditions,” said Admissions Liaison Officer David Byrne in an email to staff and students. Secondary school and mature students, guidance counsellors, teachers and parents from across the country and abroad are invited every year to the College’s Open Day to get information on Trinity’s courses and student life first-hand from current students and staff members. This year, the Open Day was planned to feature stands for undergraduate courses, admissions, mature students, accommodation, and student sports and societies. In addition, over one hundred presentations were due to be held in various lecture theatres to inform prospective students of specific undergraduate courses. “A number of second level guidance counsellors contacted the Admissions Office yesterday to say that they supported our decision,” said Mr. Byrne, who received encouragement that “it was the prudent thing to
“People [who emigrate] gain skills that may be hard to acquire in Ireland.” employment” said Siofra Mc Allistair. “I would see it as a last resort, I want to make my life at home in Ireland” said Daniel Farrell. The findings of the survey correspond with a recent poll by Continued on page 2
“A number of second level guidance counsellors contacted us to say they supported our decision.” – David Byrne
SS You don’t need a PhD in engineering to build a snowman, but it helps. Engineering PhD students put the finishing touches to their creation. Classes were cancelled and offices closed early last week due to the weather. Photo by Kevin O’Rourke
do”. At the time of going to print, no announcement has been made as to whether the Open Day will be rescheduled. The decision to carry out lectures in light of the Open Day cancellation was left to the discretion of individual Continued on page 3
Trinity Crèche to increase charges in new year Aine Pennello Staff Reporter
TRINITY COLLEGE crèche and day nursery services has announced it will increase service charges by nine percent as of January 4, 2011. With the upcoming holidays, staff pay cuts and government budget, Supervisor Michelle Butler told Trinity News that the charge was nonetheless “a necessity” to alleviate the nursery’s current account deficit. Butler attributed the deficit to “large overheads due to legislation and HSE requirements,” meaning the nursery is liable to make certain renovations and maintain specific carer to child ratios. The result has been “high staff costs”.
While the nursery is currently being repainted and has undergone a change in layout, Butler informed Trinity News that the funding for these and other renovations such as the installation of new play services and improved training on hygiene and safety was provided by other resources within the college, such as the Sports Centre. The fee increase is the first service charge increase since 2008 and is guaranteed to be the only such increase until September 2012, “just to put parents’ minds at rest” Butler explained. While Butler said one or two parents have expressed concern about the increase, she said most parents believed the service was still good value for money. At €230 per week and
subject to subsidies, Butler said the nursery’s fees were “still below market rate,” quoting the weekly charges of Bright Horizons and Giraffe crèches as €255 and €248 per week respectively. The increase in the charge is “a necessity” to allievate the current account deficit, stated Michelle Butler. “Hopefully we won’t have too much of an uproar about the fees,” she said. While the nursery is not currently operating at full capacity, with fortynine of its fifty-two spaces filled, Butler explained the remaining spaces were being held for children booked in January. Currently, demand for the
nursery’s “baby” places (age three to twelve months) makes up 48 percent of the waiting list, an age category for which the nursery has only six places. Advantages and subsidies also cause the nursery’s high demand. For six weeks and three weeks respectively the nursery offers students and staff a grace period in which fees are not charged as a “goodwill gesture”. The nursery has also been successful in obtaining funding for parents through Early Education Childcare (EEC) and the Community Childcare Subvention Scheme (CCSS), the latter of which is exclusive to non-profit nurseries. As a third option, a childcare assistance fund is also available and managed by the Senior Tutor’s office.
SS The deficit has not been caused by a lack of demand, as the nursery’s waiting list currently stands at 130. The list has narrowed as parents find alternate creches, or graduate.
Vol 57
Issue 5
7 December, 2010