STUDENT GRANTS:More than 50,000 student grant applications are still being processed by the new central online system set up this year.
The Department of Education announced details of the new system in June which deals with new grant applications for the 2012/2013 academic year. Those in receipt of grants before this continue to deal with the existing 66 grant-awarding authorities until they finish their course.
Minister for Education Ruairí Quinn has confirmed, in response to a parliamentary question from Sinn Féin education spokesman Jonathan O’Brien, that 52,430 grant applications are still being processed.
A county-by-county breakdown of the status of applications showed that out of 65,000 received by the new system, over 12,000 decisions have been made and just over 3,000 grants have been awarded.
Mr O’Brien said the new system was supposed to make the process of applying for a grant a good deal easier but “regrettably, there have been serious flaws which have resulted in delayed payments”.
“The consequences for students and their families cannot be overstated and my office in Cork has dealt with people who have been left in dire straits by the failings of the new online system . . .”