‘I won’t be able to continue studying’

CHRIS SCANLON was looking forward to finishing his business administration degree in 2013 until he found out his grant will be cut next year by about €1,500.

He would have about €65 a week less in grant support next year because he is from Ballycotton, just under 28 miles (45km) from Cork Institute of Technology (CIT).

Under changes announced by Education Minister Mary Coughlan on Tuesday, students now have to live at least 28 miles from college, instead of 15 miles, to qualify for the higher non-adjacent grant rates from next year.

This would mean Chris can no longer afford to live near the college in Bishopstown, but would instead have to travel up and down from his home on the east Cork coast every day which causes difficulties with his studies. Chris cannot drive for medical reasons and would not get to college by bus before 10am.

“I did it for a few months in first year but I missed early lectures and had to leave early in the evening to get buses home,” he said.

“Because we have more assignments, projects and presentations during the year instead of final exams, you need to spend more time in the library and that’s impossible if you’re not living very near college,” he said.

Chris is on a year out from studying to work as vice-president of CIT Students’ Union and the €2,490 he got as a 75% grant last year would fall to just more than €900 from next year as all grants are also being cut by 4% next year, on top of this year’s 5% cut.

“I have another two years to go on my degree. Last year, I did some part-time work and had a €5,000 loan but the grant still only covered half my rent. But with paying off the loan and no part-time work available, I simply can’t afford it next year and won’t be able to continue studying,” he said.

“The Government should base the non-adjacent grant rate on physical access to college rather than just distance,” said Chris.

The Department of Education said the 15-mile distance to qualify for higher grants was set in 1968 before significant improvements to transport facilities and road networks and the change will save €30 million a year.

But Tuam-based Labour Party member of Galway County Council Colm Keaveney said it will mean a devastating 62% cut for working families already hit with increased taxes and other charges, and reduced services in Budget 2011.

The decision will have a serious impact in areas such as Tuam and Portumna, but it “will be felt by families in all commuter belt towns around the country such as Drogheda, Wicklow, Trim, Ennis, Mallow and Tipperary,” he said.

Jackie O’Callaghan, whose daughter Aisling is studying multimedia at CIT, will also see the level of grant the family qualifies for cut from €3,250 to less than €1,300 next year.

“But the cost will be very hard now, particularly with the price of college books rising, as well as transport,” said Ms O’Callaghan.