SVP warn of effects of delays in grant payments

The dire circumstance of thousands of students has again been highlighted by the St Vincent De Paul Society as delays continue in the processing and payment of third level maintenance grants.

The warning comes after Fine Gael revealed last week that at least 15,000 students - representing 25% of all applicants – are still awaiting the payment of their maintenance grants from their local authorities.

Anne McGrath, a co-coordinator for SVP’s education fund said a large number of students are facing “significant difficulties” for a variety of reasons with the delay in grants only part of a wider problem.

“There are many students who don’t receive grants and are in the middle of degrees. A large number have recently lost their full or part-time jobs or one or both of their parents are now out of work. In these circumstances the rise in the registration fee to €1500 is making it extra hard,” she said.

The students requiring assistance come from every background but with limited resources we have to have criteria in place to help the very worst off as quickly as possible,” she added.

Students’ Union education and welfare officer John Murphy also highlighted the delay of grant payments as a serious problem for students.

“I can certainly say the number facing financial hardship has increased dramatically in recent weeks as the semester has worn on. The biggest issue is of course those still waiting on grants, with county councils and VECs taking an incredibly long time to process them.”

Other student support organisations have added their concern over the long term issues of student’s ability to afford college.

Paul Hayes is a guidance councillor with the Northside Partnership which provides extra support for local students through the Millennium Fund.

“The fund is there to help those from low income or welfare supported households but we are getting requests from every level of society. Applications this year have almost doubled; the numbers are out the door,” he said.

Deirdre Moloney, manager of the DCU Student Advice Centre, oversees the Student Assistance Fund which provided financial support for 262 students last year. “There was an increase of about 40 applications in semester two last year, but the numbers did not rise in this semester.”

She said that although the fund had been cut by 20 per cent this year there was still funding available for applications next semester.