15,000 student grant applicants cancel their claims

Almost 15,000 people who began the application process for a student grant have cancelled their claims.

Student Universal Support Ireland (Susi) has paid out grants and fees to just over 36,500 of around 65,400 who applied since last summer for help from the €360m student support budget. But while 2,500 had yet to supply remaining documents or confirm they are proceeding, it said 14,473 have cancelled.

“Large numbers of them were cancelled since we intensified our campaign after Christmas to contact people with outstanding applications or who had not responded to previous requests,” a Susi spokesman said.