The Union of Students in Ireland has condemned the Government for placing new restrictions on qualification criteria for the student maintenance grant.   

As part of the Budget 2010, students in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance will no longer be eligible to receive the student maintenance grant.

Similarly, students in Post Leaving Cert courses, who are in receipt of Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) allowances, will also no longer qualify for the grant.

These new restrictions, which will apply to all new grant holders from January 2010, are likely to deter thousands of people from entering third level education.

USI is calling on the Minister Batt O' Keeffe and the Government to reverse these Budget measures.

Peter Mannion, USI President, said: 

"These new student grant restrictions will seriously decrease the potential for thousands of students around Ireland to make the leap into Further and Higher Education.

 Mature students, in particular, were badly hit by yesterday's Budget. Many of these students have children and will also feel the affects of the cuts in child benefit. How can people be encouraged to enter, or re-enter, education if at every turn the access is being made more difficult?

It will be impossible to tempt the unemployed back to education, if financially it becomes unbearable to continue with further or higher education.

USI has requested a meeting with Minister Batt O' Keeffe to discuss the major concerns of its student members as regards the student maintenance grant."