Grant delays for students

A BUREAUCRATIC mess is at the heart of student grant delays which meant work had not started on the applications of more than 8,200 people by early January, according to Fine Gael education spokesperson Brian Hayes.

He said many students awaiting grants have had to drop out of college while the Student Support Bill which was to have sorted out such delays is languishing in obscurity.

Updated figures from the Department of Education last night said the backlog is now reduced to 2,572.