• Demand that SFI, the IRC, Teagasc, etc. Raise PhD Stipends to Living Wage by September
    **Gaeilge thíos, Irish below** On the 26th June 2023, a long-awaited and long-delayed review into PhD support in Ireland was published. It recommended that government-funded PhD candidates receive a stipend of €25,000/year starting September 2023. Since then, bodies such as the SFI, the IRC, & Teagasc have remained silent, have not committed to raising stipends, and have not responded to PWO inquiries for clarification on how they would react to the review’s recommendations. The vast majority of the PGRs in Ireland are paid the equivalent of less than minimum wage, with the vast majority being held at 30% below minimum wage or worse. During the ongoing cost of living crisis, however, even a minimum wage is not enough to live on. They are desperately in need of better pay and increased support, so it is essential that stipends are raised as soon as possible. Moreover, PGRs need to know what their financial situation will look like in the near-future so they can make informed decisions about their accommodation in the midst of a longstanding housing crisis that is further exacerbated by the worsening cost of living crisis. With upcoming research costs for conferences, publications, and presentations, as well as the prospect of moving and various other important financial decisions, PGRs need clarity on what level of support they can count on from their funding agencies. However, with the current lack of communication about the potential stipend increase, PGRs have been left in limbo. Some PGRs are making long-term commitments on the basis of the stipend they receive, such as tenancy agreements, and cannot accept further delays. The Postgraduate Workers’ Organisation therefore demands that SFI, the IRC, Teagasc, and other PhD-funding bodies raise stipends to at least a living wage (i.e. €25,000/year) by September as recommended by the recent review into PhD support in Ireland, and that this increase be communicated immediately and clearly to all PhDs. ---------Gaeilge--------- Ar 26 mí Meitheamh 2023, foilsíodh tuairisc ar thacaíochta na PhDanna tar éis tréimhse feithimh agus moillithe fada. Mhol sé stipinn €25,000/bliain do PhDanna a raibh maoiniú acu ón rialtas ó Mheán Fómhair 2023 amach. Níl raibh trácht ar bith ó chomhlachtaí cosúil le SFI, leis an IRC, ná le Teagasc ar an scéal, níl gealltanas tugtha acu stipinní a ardú, agus níor fhreagair siad ceisteanna curtha ag an EOI maidir le soiléiriú ar na freagraí a bheas acu. Íoctar níos lú ná pá íosta do mhórchuid na dtaighdeoirí iarchéime in Éirinn, agus bíonn móramh acu 30% faoi phá íosta nó níos measa as. Le linn an géarchéim mhaireachtála reatha, ní leor pá íosta fiú le maireachtáil. Tá géarghá ag na taighdeoirí iarchéime ar tacaíochtaí agus pá níos fearr agus níos airde, agus mar sin is gá go mbeidh ardú tagtha ar na stipinní chomh luath agus is féidir. Thairis sin, caithfidh taighdeoirí iarchéime tuiscint cé chaoi mar a bheas an scéal sna míonna atá romhainn le go mbeadh siad in ann cinntí cónaithe a dhéanamh go feasach. Go áirithe le linn géarchéimeanna tithíochta agus maireachtála, tá an-ghá leis sin. Le costais comhdhálacha taighde, foilseacháin, taispeántais, aistrithe, srl. i measc go leor cinntí airgeadais eile, ní mór soiléireacht a thabhairt do taighdeoirí iarchéime maidir le cé mhéad tacaíochta a bheas ag dul chucu óna gcomhlachtaí maoinithe. Leis an easpa cumarsáide atá ann anois maidir le ardú na stipinní, fágadh lár lár na taighdeoirí iarchéime. Tá ar cuid acu cinntí fad-téarmach, cosúil le conartha tionóntachta, a ndéanamh acu de réir an stipinn atá ann faoi láthair, agus ní féidir leo leanúint ar aghaidh gan tuilleadh soiléireacht ar an scéal. Éilíonn Eagraíocht na nOibrithe Iarchéimithe mar sin go ndéanfaidh SFI, an IRC, Teagasc, agus comhlachtaí maoinithe PhDanna eile an stipinn a ardú go pá inmhaireachtála (.i. €25,000/bliain) ar a laghad roimh mí Mheáin Fhómhair mar atá molta ag an tuairisc le déanaí ar thacaíochta na PhDanna in Éirinn. Éilítear chomh maith go ndéanfar an ardú seo a fógairt go soiléir le gach uile PhD.
    3,078 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by PWO Ireland Picture
  • Roundabout at Cow Cross (Tay Road Junction)
    The junction is a dangerous intersection, from either side of Tay Road it is very difficult to see both ways, because the intersecting road is straight, cars will go at full speed and arrive at the junction with very short notice as one side there is a hill, which blocks visibility and the other a steep turn. A lot of people in Cobh will avoid this junction altogether because it is too dangerous. Unsurprisingly, accidents have occured here with even a fatality a few years back. Nothing effective has been done to make this junction a safe one.
    3 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Mark Gibney
  • Free Staffed Tyre checks at every station
    As the US dept of Energy points out......"Tires can make a big difference in the number of miles a driver gets to a tank of gas. In fact, 20% to 30% of a vehicle’s fuel consumption and 24% of road vehicle CO2 emissions are tire-related. Tires affect vehicle fuel efficiency primarily through rolling resistance....... "Under inflation also increases the rate of wear on tires and are estimated to cause as many as 10 to 25 percent of blowouts......... "A tire that is 20 percent underinflated can increase a vehicle’s fuel consumption by 10 percent. " "because it provides more resistance, causing your car to expend more effort to get going." https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/tires-and-fuel-economy People would be far more inclined to have their tyres checked if it was free and if someone were to do it for them. This was once normal procedure in garages across the country. This could see a huge drop in transport emissions which in the past year saw a 6% rise. We can cut emissions very easily if the will is there. Tyres need to be checked at least once a month for optimum performance. Every sector needs to strive for optimum performance in reducing emissions. Transport can easily reduce theirs with this small and effective action. It is time fossil fuel merchants were asked to do their bit to reduce emissions.
    102 of 200 Signatures
    Created by 80MAX Ireland Picture
  • Say YES to Linking Private Housing Rental with Property Tax
    Join this campaign to emphasise a logical solution to the housing crisis.
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    Created by Louise McMahon Picture
  • More Bus Shelters for Inchicore & Kilmainham
    Other areas like Castleknock Have a steel bus shelter at every bus stop and a €5,500 belly bin. Residents in Inchicore and Kilmainham would like their bus stops upgraded to the same standard as other areas; with a shelter, RTPI and a bin.
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    Created by Zoe Obeimhen
  • Leo, Return T-10 funding for the the western region
    The west of Ireland has played second fiddle to major infrastructure projects for years, we are the forgotten Region, it’s time to stand up and be counted.
    1 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Gerry Loftus
  • Replace carcinogenic sweeteners in soft drinks
    Increasingly we seek to drink so called healthier “ diet” no sugar drinks like Diet Coke and “low or no sugar “ mineral waters and carbonated drinks and “ energy drinks”. These usually contain Aspartame which is carcinogenic. They could be replaced with drinks zero sugar drinks sweetened by the safe natural Stevia plant based sweetener.
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    Created by Fergus Jordan
  • Keep SouthDoc in Kanturk
    This Out of Hours GP service based in Kanturk is vital to the Duhallow region and the communities that it serves
    3,055 of 4,000 Signatures
    Created by Michael Moynihan
  • Stop the Shannonvale Sewage Flood
    It has been known, since at least as far back as 1998, to Cork County Council, and their successor organisations responsible for Water Services, Irish Water, and Uisce Éireann, that untreated sewage has been escaping from a failed sewage treatment system into a public park in the village of Shannonvale, Clonakilty, County Cork. This area, which serves as the village's sole public recreation space, is situated on the north bank of the River Argideen, upstream from the point where Uisce Éireann extracts drinking water for the entire Clonakilty municipal water supply. Despite the evident threats to public health, this issue has persisted for over 25 years, since it was first reported to Cork County Council.
    1,692 of 2,000 Signatures
    Created by Shannonvale Clonakilty
  • Better Rights for Dyslexic and Special Educational Needs Children
    It is important as lots of children every year are failed by the Irish Government my son enclude. These children have rights under the disability legislation act and we must act now before any other children are failed long term.
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    Created by Siobhán McGourty
  • Minister Coveney, help the Iceland workers!
    This can help stop similar situations from ever taking place again.
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    Created by Alexander Homits
  • 1 of 100 Signatures
    Created by Brian Patridge