Minister 'considering cut in student maintenance grant'

Students could face a double hit in the upcoming budget with a cut to student grants and a hike in third-level fees.

According to the Sunday Independent, the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn is under pressure to make cuts of up to €106m in his department.

Cutting the student maintenance grant, which currently stands at just over €3,000, is believed to be one of a number of measures being considered with a rise in fees already on the cards.

Minister Quinn had proposed last month to introduce means-testing for the payment but it is now understood this measure has been delayed due to costs, with a straight cut to be suffered by all students instead.