Grants scheme to lure student votes

THE two main opposition parties are hoping for the support of student voters on plans to reform the college grants scheme, after proposed Government legislation on the issue failed to make it to the Oireachtas.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin announced plans last summer to give responsibility for all four student grant schemes to the country’s Vocational Education Committees (VECs) from this summer. But the Student Support Bill required to make the change was not introduced before the election was called last month.

Fine Gael is proposing that a Student Support Unit should be set up to co-ordinate all grants for students at colleges on both sides of the border and studying abroad.