60,000 students to get 5% less per week in grants

AROUND 60,000 third-level students will have an average of 5% less per week from January due to a cut in grants by Education Minister Batt O’Keeffe.

A 5% cut in all student grants means €334 per year less – or more than €11 for each week of the college year – for thousands of the most disadvantaged students who receive the top level of grant.

The measure takes effect from January, even though more than 10,000 people who applied for grants since August have still not received any payments.