Almost two-thirds of around 60,000 college students expected to qualify for grants have got their first payment from Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi).

More than 50 complaints against the body overseeing the approval of student grants have been accepted by the ombudsman.

Student leaders say the true measure of any improvements in the grants system will be figures on how many applications have been decided.

Students left penniless by the college grants fiasco are turning up hungry at St Vincent de Paul and welfare offices for food parcels.