College students face grant application woe over reforms delay

AROUND 60,000 college students face the same red tape with grant applications for the foreseeable future as budget restrictions are to prevent the rollout of major reforms of the system.

Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe has revealed that, although he hopes to re-introduce the legislation to transfer operation of all grants to Vocational Education Committees (VECs) by the summer, it will not, however, be implemented immediately.

The Student Support Bill made it to committee stage in the Dáil a year ago, but the minister has said it is being held up by legal difficulties.