Extra €1.5m to help struggling students

An extra €1.5m is being given to colleges to help students struggling financially to stick with their studies, but uncertainty remains over any new third-level fees system.

The investment is on top of around €7.5m already provided for 2016 to the Student Assistance Fund, which is administered on campuses to those who are unable to meet the costs associated with being at college.

The additional budget was announced by Education Minister Jan O’Sullivan as she unveiled plans by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) to increase the participation of disadvantaged, mature and disabled students in third-level.