Fury over Quinn's plan to axe grants for post-graduates [Independent.ie]
- Published: 14 November 2011
EDUCATION Minister Ruairi Quinn faced a backlash last night after it emerged that up to 3,600 post-graduate students may lose grants of €6,000 each from September.
Mr Quinn is considering charging every person who goes into the post-grad system and cutting off their grants. Currently around 3,600 of the 9,000 students qualify for free fees and state grants, worth around €6,000 each per year, while they pursue a diploma, masters or PhD.
But there were warnings last night that axing state support might block unemployed workers who are trying to go back to college to improve their skills and also make post-graduate qualifications the "preserve of the wealthy elite".
Fine Gael Wexford TD Liam Twomey said there were many people with degrees who wanted to get an extra qualification to allow them to work in sec-tors where jobs were plentiful.
Full Story: www.independent.ie
