Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I acknowledge the fact that many students are struggling financially, whether due to the cost of rent, utilities, food, fees or other items for which they have to pay. The main way we assist students is through the student grant system. More than 75,000 students receive a grant. The grant levels are under review in the budget. In recognition that some students are facing real and serious hardship, the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Deputy Harris, has doubled the student assistance fund to €17.2 million. In recent days, he has allocated €596,000 of this to UCC to assist it to assist students who are in real financial need.

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