College grants threatened by SSIAs

THE Union of Students in Ireland (USI) has lashed out at the Government’s decision to include SSIA savings in third level grant means tests as “unfair and discriminatory”.

The criticism follows revelations that thousands of students could lose their education grants when their parents cash in on the Government's SSIA savings scheme.

USI deputy president Noel Hogan said the move, which is expected to result in untold grant refusals, discriminated against ordinary working families who were trying to save.