Founded in 2008, the ISSU is the national representative body for school students in the Republic of Ireland. The ISSU is led by students, for students.

The main aims of the ISSU are as follows:

• To provide a transparent, democratic and reliable organisation.

• To provide a collective voice for second-level students and represent second-level students as stakeholders in their education and in society, locally, regionally, nationally and internationally to continually develop a transparent, fair and modern education system.

• To promote equal access to education and to strive for the end of all discrimination and injustice within the Irish education system.

•  To empower student councils to be democratic and effective representative bodies within their school communities.

• To work to end the disparity in student services based on socio-economic backgrounds.

•  To fight for a fair education system that values each individual and allows them to reach their full potential.

• To actively support and empower individual students and student councils to take action.

• To actively address the challenges and worries faced by students on a local, regional, national and international level.