Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

Approximately 25,000 students will lose out, to the extent of between €1,500 and €3,500 depending on the category of grant. That is a serious blow, and the Minister is not serious about it. When will the Minister publish the Hunt report? If there is a serious problem, why has she not introduced the replacement of these grants, as was promised? It is awaiting introduction but the Minister dillydallied. The easiest thing to do was cut, and 25,000 students will lose out, some very substantially. It is obvious that these will drop out. The killing part of it is that the Minister is implementing from next September the commitment that they entered into originally, but not for the students who are entering now. That is a serious withdrawal and a contract with the Minister has been broken.

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