Thousands fret over student grants [Independent.ie]
- Published: 25 May 2010
THOUSANDS of students still do not know if they will get higher education maintenance grants in the current academic year -- even though some have already finished their studies.
Startling new figures show that 3,436 applicants are still awaiting decisions by vocational education committees (VEC) on their grant applications.
The figures for the VECs are on top of the 1,960 applications that local authorities were still considering at the end of March.
The figures were described last night as "astonishing" by incoming Union of Students in Ireland president Gary Redmond, who said there were "horror" stories this year of vulnerable students who were in serious hardship because of delays in getting their grants.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
