Budget 2013 Education: 6,000 to lose up to €1,500 as income levels for grants reduced

More than 6,000 students will lose up to €1,510 each in grant aid next year after cuts to the income limits.

About 5,300 grant recipients are expected to lose amounts ranging from €300 upward, depending on the level of support they would have qualified for this year and how far they live from college. A further 863 who do not get a grant will only have half the €2,500 student contribution paid for them, while over 200 are expected to have to pay the full fee instead of just half from next year.

The losses are the result of a 3% cut to the family incomes below which grants are payable. It will see the threshold for the maximum standard rate of grant reduce from €41,110 to €39,875.