Travel bursaries have been made available for Irish students in the UK who wish to travel home to vote in the Eighth Amendment referendum.

The Union of Students in Ireland is working with its UK counterpart to "campaign" for Irish students studying in institutions in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland to travel home to vote on 25 May.

USI President Michael Kerrigan said Irish citizens studying in the UK can get in touch with their students' union and avail of a travel bursary fund.

Mr Kerrigan said: "Students can get between £55 and £110 to pay for the flights home to vote 'Yes' on May 25th."

In a statement, the 'Save the 8th' group encouraged Irish students in the UK who wish to vote 'No' to avail of the grant.

When contacted, a spokesperson for the USI said that, while the sentiments surrounding the Home to Vote campaign are coming from the 'Yes' side, as far as he is aware, students will not be screened on how they will be voting in order to avail of the fund.

The bursary is being provided by the National Union of Students in the UK, according to the USI.

This week, the USI announced that 26,979 students registered to vote for the first time ahead of the referendum.

Lawyer challenges Martin to debate on referendum

Earlier today, lawyers in favour of the Eighth Amendment being retained in the constitution have said repeal will result in abortion on request up to six months under the Government's planned legislation.

Barrister Benedict Ó Floinn criticised comments by the Fianna Fáil leader, who spoke at a Lawyers for Yes event on Wednesday.

Micheál Martin rejected the suggestion that a Yes vote would lead to unlimited or late term abortions and that the limits and regulations proposed in the legislation can't be trusted.

Mr Ó Floinn said Mr Martin was wholly mistaken.

He said it was open to the Government to recommend an amendment of the article in the Constitution, instead of repealing it and to introduce legislation addressing exception cases.

"They didn't do that, instead they yielded to those who wanted the rights of the unborn completely swept away and a wide-ranging right to abortion put in its place," he said.

Mr Ó Floinn called on Mr Martin to debate the matter with lawyers on the No side.

Meanwhile the Psychological Society of Ireland, which favours repealing the Eighth Amendment, has released two papers which it says "counters false facts that are not based on scientific research".

In its Five facts on the Eighth Amendment and Mental Health paper, it says women who choose abortion do so because of the negative effects of continuing the pregnancy on their mental health and that of their existing children and others.

It says that the majority of women report feelings of relief after an abortion and those who maintain feelings of regret over time are affected mostly by societal stigma and a lack of social support.

Professor Brian Hughes of the PSI Science and Public Policy Committee says the society is convinced that the scientific research literature shows clearly that women would be best served if the Eighth Amendment is removed.

"The highest-quality research has demonstrated little to no negative mental health outcomes in women who have had abortions. In fact, the research shows that the prohibition of abortion is itself a risk-factor for adverse mental health."