Grant cuts dash education hopes of unemployed and mature students
Issued : Thursday 25 February, 2010
Statement by Dominic Hannigan TD
Mature students and the unemployed have had their hopes dashed by budget cuts abolishing grants for people seeking a second chance at education, Senator Dominic Hannigan has stated.
In the Oireachtas today the Labour Party Senator criticised Education Minister Batt O'Keeffe's decision that come September, students on Back to Education Allowance and VTOS schemes will no longer be available for student grants.
Senator Hannigan said: "Almost 1,400 people around the country who perhaps didn't finish school or get a good leaving cert have already started on access to education courses. They did this on the understanding that when they finished they would get financial help to pursue a third level course. Now half way through their access course they have been told they will be ineligible for student grants come September. This is not just unfortunate, it is unfair," said Senator Hannigan.
Senator Hannigan has been told that the Government will save around €4 million a year by removing the eligibility for student grants from those on Back to Education Allowance schemes and those doing post-leaving cert courses under VTOS.
"This will save a small amount of money but it is doing so by cutting off the best chance these people have of improving their job prospects through education. Surely in this time of massive unemployment the Government needs to be supporting such people, rather than limiting their opportunities. Leaving such people on the dole is not a saving.
Senator Hannigan said people who have made the difficult decision to return to education are now worried about their futures. "I met recently with students who had started an access course at NUI Galway with the hope of going on to do a degree. The Ministers decision to cut their financial aid is going to seriously impact on their ability to achieve that goal.
Hannigan said such courses are specifically designed to give people without the usual educational requirements or those from disadvantaged backgrounds, access to third level education. "As a society we cannot afford to have a situation where access to education is limited to those who can afford it."
