60,000 face delays in receiving grant payment

ABOUT 60,000 college students could face grant payment delays again next year because Government legislation looks unlikely to be passed in time to allow for reforms of the system.

Under the Student Support Bill, the operation of all grants will become the responsibility of city and county Vocational Education Committees (VECs), which already handle two-thirds of applications.

The remainder are processed by local councils, and students complain each year that delays in some VECs and councils force certain applicants to wait until months after starting college before receiving their first grant payment.