Extra €3m for student emergency cash fund

The Government has had to put an extra €3m into an emergency fund to help cash-strapped students — many of whom are being forced to turn to colleges for food and rent money.

Delays to grant payments have put increased pressure on the Department of Education’s Student Assistance Fund, allocated to colleges through the Higher Education Authority (HEA).

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn has approved the additional €3m budget, on top of the €8m sanctioned for the current college year.