8th February 2010
The Union of Students in Ireland (USI) is outraged that, halfway through the college year, over 2,500 students across Ireland have not yet had their grant applications processed.
The Department of Education has confirmed that 2,572 student maintenance grant applications have yet to be processed.
27 awarding authorities have not yet paid the second installment of the maintenance grant.
USI estimates that approximately 6,000 students have either not yet had their grant applications processed or have not received their first grant installment.
The 13 per cent increase in the number applying for grants, coupled with the public sector jobs moratorium, has resulted in a backlog in processing of grants this year.
USI is urging the Minister of Education, Batt O' Keeffe, to immediately implement the Student Support Bill, which will work to streamline the grant application process.
USI President, Peter Mannion, said:
"Considering that it is almost six months into the college year, it is unbelievable that so many students have still not been informed whether they qualify for the maintenance grant or not. Many have been in contact with USI in a distressed fashion, struggling to financially carry on with college.
In the harsh economic climate, many students cannot secure part-time work. Similarly, they can no longer look to their parents for financial assistance as many of their parents also face financial difficulties.
With soaring numbers entering third level education over the coming years, USI expects the student grant system to strain even further. We call on the Minister to immediately address this problem by enacting the Student Support Bill. This will ensure that these delays are finally a thing of the past."
twitter updates
