Queries on cross-border students delays grants

LEGAL questions surrounding falling numbers crossing the border to attend college has delayed a new law to speed up grant applications and payments for almost 60,000 students each year.

The Irish Examiner has learnt that equality issues arising from the situation are a huge factor holding up publication of the Student Support Bill, first announced by Education Minister Mary Hanafin two years ago.

About 700 people from the Republic accepted places in Northern third-level colleges in 2004, but the figure fell below 350 last autumn, according to Britain’s Universities and Colleges Admissions Services (UCAS) data.