A SEVERE delay in processing student grants has left many Limerick students unable to access essential college services such as library and computer facilities. According to local Fianna Fáil TD Willie O’Dea, students must provide proof that they are in receipt of a maintenance grant before being permitted to use college services. “I have spoken to many Limerick students over the past number of weeks who say they are restricted from using library and computer services until they have proof that they are in receipt of a student maintenance grant.
“Students in receipt of the Back to Education allowance are also being threatened with having their payments being cut off, as they are unable to provide evidence to social welfare offices of having registered for their college course.”
According to Deputy O’Dea, there are also reports of students being asked to pay the registration fee upfront if they wish to access services while awaiting news of their grant application.
They are told they will then be reimbursed by the college once the grant has come through.
“This is completely unfair and unrealistic. How are these students who are in need of state support to get through college expected to fund €2,250 upfront?”, he asked.
Deputy O’Dea has called on Education Minister Ruairí Quinn to intervene following reports that students whose grant applications still haven’t been processed are having great difficulty registering properly in their colleges.
“The massive backlog in processing student grants is causing chaos for thousands of students at third level institutions nationwide. I am again calling on the Minister to outline what is being done to clear the massive backlog of applications.”
Figures released last week show that nearly 52,000 out of the 65,000 student grant applicants this year are still waiting for their grants to be processed.
