Department must pay €5k to disabled student over grant

The Department of Education has been ordered to pay €5,000 compensation to a University College Cork student over its refusal to pay her annual grants after her disability forced her to take a three-year degree course over six years.

The Equality Tribunal ruled the department had discriminated against the student on grounds of her disability and had not provided her with reasonable accommodation under the Equal Status Acts.

It also directed the department to review its grants schemes to allow for applicants to meet and engage with decision makers.