‘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.