Student grants appeals board set up

There's good news for students today with the announcement of the first ever student grants appeals board.

The Appeals Board was established under the Student Support Act 2011 and will be independent.

It is the first such board for those seeking to appeal decisions made on grants and will be open to students who applied for consideration in this academic year.

Seven members have been appointed to the independent body, including its chairperson Maureen Waldron who is a former director of the Department of Social Protection.

Education Minister Ruairi Quinn said the establishment of the board was an historic development in the area of student grants.

He said he believed the expertise brought by the board members would provide an important contribution to improving the grant experience for students.