VECs promise one-stop shop for grants

AN efficient one-stop shop for 57,000 third-level student grant recipients has been promised by the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs).

Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced yesterday that they will be given sole responsibility for the administration of student grants from the college year beginning in autumn 2007.

It follows consultations and assessments on a new method to administer grants on a more streamlined basis, as there have been complaints about application and payment delays by councils and VECs which jointly administer the system at present.