Level of student grants ‘should increase significantly’

Significant increases in the grants paid to students and restoring supports for postgraduate students have been recommended by the expert group on third-level funding.

It says that the poorest families should benefit from the more significant hikes in rates in order to help address the difficulties faced by students, particularly those studying away from home.

While most focus has been on the question of fees, and whether they should be increased, abolished, or replaced with a loan scheme to cover student tuition, the group chaired by Peter Cassells makes several recommendations on grants in its report published this week.