Each third-level institution in Ireland has its own student union which serves as the only representative body for all registered students within that college or university. It provides student services and represents the student both inside and outside of college.

The students’ union is a place for students to express their views, to voice their opinions, and to feel part of a larger student community. Everything the students’ union does revolves around you and your needs – welfare, education, social issues, and anything else that concerns you. It promotes, defends and advances the interests of its members, and every student has a part to play in their students’ union – no matter how big or small. If you want change for students, it is through the students’ union that you will achieve this goal.

Students’ Unions are run by students who are elected by the student body. Student union officers typically include the president, deputy president, education officer, welfare officer, and entertainments officer. Services typically offered by your student union include everything from contraception to counselling; accommodation and legal rights to sexual health screening; photocopying services to information about grants and funding; and much more. Student shops, bars, and newspapers at your college or university are also run by your student union.

All students’ unions in Ireland are members of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), which represents over 250,000 students across more than 40 colleges throughout Ireland. It is the national representative body for students in Ireland and works for: an education and training system open to all; the right of all students to a decent standard of living, with the right to adequate financial support, proper housing and future prospects of employment in Ireland; the defence and promotion of all democratic and human rights; and the provision of student services for the benefit of the membership on the principle that control of student services should lie with the membership. The main function of any union is to campaign on behalf of its members. USI is committed to campaigning on behalf of the students of Ireland for a better education system, fairer student support, genuine diversity in access to education, and adequate funding for all students.

Listed below are some links to student unions at the universities and ITs in Ireland.
TCD:
http://www.tcd.ie/Admissions/student_life/students_union.html
UCD:
http://www.ucdsu.ie/index.php?option=com_frontpage&Itemid=1
DCU:
http://life.dcu.ie/clubsocs.php?id=2
NUI Galway:
http://www.su.nuigalway.ie/
NUI Maynooth:
http://www.nuimsu.com/
UCC:
http://www.ucc.ie/en/SIN/uccsu/
UL:
http://www.ulsu.ul.ie/
IADT:
http://www.iadt.ie/en/Students/StudentUnion/
GMIT:
http://www.gmitsu.ie/index.php?page=your-union
ITT Dublin:
http://www.it-tallaght.ie/StudentLife/StudentUnion/
LIT:
http://www.lit.ie/student/sunion.html
Letterkenny IT:
http://www.lyit.ie/student/student_union.html
IT Tralee:
http://www.ittraleesu.ie/
Dundalk IT:
http://ww2.dkit.ie/student_life/links/dkit_student_union
IT Carlow:
http://www.itcarlow.ie/curr_student_union.asp?top_section=1&lower_section=2&lower2_section=6&sel_sect=28&uid=itcarlow
WIT:
http://www2.wit.ie/StudentLifeServices/WITStudentsUnion/
CIT:
http://www.citsu.ie/
ITB:
http://itbsu.ie/page.php?2
IT Sligo:
http://www.itssu.ie/
DIT:
http://www.ditsu.ie/
AIT:
http://www.ait.ie/facilities/stufacil/studentunion.shtml