Student grants scheme system faces delays

COLLEGE students face further frustration and delays with grants next summer after it emerged in the Dáil yesterday the unified application system will not be in place because of delays in the necessary legislation.

Education Minister Mary Hanafin said she expects to publish the Student Support Bill before TDs return to the Dáil next month, with the aim of making grant applications easier for students and their families.

It will eventually mean that city and county Vocational Education Committees (VECs), which handle about two-thirds of all 60,000 grant applications each year, will take over responsibility for the remainder from local councils.