Failed grants IT system cost department €800k

Technology for the failed online system to process college grants has cost the Department of Education almost €800,000.

Despite the outlay, the online Student Universal Support Ireland will be revamped to include basic questions on whether there is another family member applying, and whether there has been a change to family income.

The system was introduced in June with the promise of making the application process quicker and easier. However, what followed was a debacle that saw lost documentation and thousands of students without payments.