Budget 2011: Maintenance grant reforms to hit thousands of students

national | education | news report

Wednesday December 08, 2010 00:37

by LM - FEE

Changes to the qualifying criteria for the adjacent rate of the student maintenance grant, announced in the Budget for 2011, will lead to students facing up to the prospect of an almost 60% decrease in financial aid.

A member of NUIM FEE addresses the crowd at Budget 2011 protest

Currently students have to reside more than 24km from their place of study in order to qualify for the non-adjacent rate, which stands at up to €3,250. Those living within 24km receive an adjacent rate of up to €1,300.

The government plans to reduce the proportion of students qualifying for the non-adjacent rate by changing qualifying criteria from 24km to 45km, in addition to imposing a 4% cut on all rates, in a move which is guaranteed to increase educational disadvantage.

Full story can be found at http://free-education.info/maintenance-grant-reforms-to...ents/