‘Shocking’ trend as more students fail to get grant

THIRD-LEVEL students in Kerry are finding it ever harder to get their hands on ‘ the grant’ for their studies as the county witnesses a ‘shocking’ decline in the numbers securing financial support for college.

Prospective third-level students and undergraduates from Kerry are struggling harder than ever to secure ‘ the grant’ - as the scheme is known - but grant-aid is surging for students living in Dublin at the same time.

Career guidance expert Billy Ryle said that new figures released by the new national grant authority point towards a ‘shocking decline’ in successful applications in Kerry. And it’s going to get much worse, he fears.

His concerns come as Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) - the new authority that has taken over the grant-administering role from local authorities and VECs - prepares to open its online application for the 2015/16 academic year on Thursday next, April 23.

“Alarming data from SUSI has revealed a sharp fall in the number of students along the western seaboard, excepting Limerick City and Galway City, qualifying for grants,” Mr Ryle said.

“In Kerry the number of grant recipients has decreased from 3415 in 2011/12, the year before SUSI was launched, to 3098 in 2013/14. The figures represent a decrease in grant recipients of almost 10 per cent and the percentage decrease for the 2014/15 academic year is shaping up to be much worse.”

Dublin students are in the black with an increase of 15 per cent in successful applicants for the Capital in the same period.

“I can find no evidence of any upswing in the economy of Kerry to justify the ruthless decimation in the number of grant recipients in the county,” Mr Ryle added. Kerry still has the highest take-up of college places in the country with 70 per cent of students here going on to third level.

Meanwhile, the grant has been slashed so much under recent budgets that even those who secure it continue to struggle. The maximum grant of €3,025 is paid out to students living more than 24km from their college, with those living closer in receipt of just €1,215 in the year. Mr Ryle said the means test for the scheme is becoming much harder too as he called for a fairer application process.