Some 80,000 students have been registered to vote in the upcoming election over the past two years.

The Union of Students in Ireland, who launched their election manifesto today, said students would have a big say in who made up the next government.

Accommodation, funding for access to higher education and repealing the 8th amendment are the top issue for students according to the USI.

USI president Kevin Donoghue said last year's same-sex marriage referendum showed that young people would turn out to vote in large numbers.

"(Young people) saw the change they could make in the marriage equality referendum," he said. "They will vote. We'll be focused on it rock-solid for the next few months."