80% of first-year student grants paid or approved

Around four of every five first-year students expected to get a grant this year are already being paid or have had their payments approved, latest figures reveal.

Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) said 32,000 of over 52,000 people awarded grants for this academic year were first-time applicants, while more than 20,000 were people who renewed grants, having qualified last year.

Of the 60,000 students SUSI expects to award grants to this year, 40,000 are new applicants.