Student grant costs vary widely

THE cost of processing student grants ranges from just €70 to almost €500 per application, according to figures from nearly half of the grant-awarding bodies.

University College Dublin Students’ Union (UCDSU) received data from 25 city and county councils in relation to the number of applications and the total administration cost associated with them last year.

The mid-range cost was around €120 per applicant at Carlow, Kerry and South Dublin county councils, but the work was done for an average of €70.51 per grant form by Westmeath County Council. The figures were obtained under the Freedom of Information Act.