Politicians must promise to invest in education if they want to win the youth vote, student leaders will warn today.
The demand is to be made at the annual congress of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) which opens today in Bundoran, Co Donegal.
With attention focused on the upcoming general election, delegates will also call for the introduction of campus polling stations.
"Delegates are concerned that Ireland invests less public money in undergraduate education compared to other leading European economies," said USI President Colm Hamrogue.
Speaking ahead of the four-day conference, he said delegates expected every political party to pledge increased investment for the third-level sector.
"Reform of the creaking student grant system is desperately needed - so too is investment in student health care, accommodation, and outdated college buildings," he said.