Vol. 25 #04 22 Jan. 2024
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Winner: Best Newspaper at the National Student Media Awards 2019
Student Independent News Nuachtán saor in aisce · Vol. 25 Issue 04 · 22 Jan. 2024
Photo by Yue Qiu
Thousands of students to be impacted by maintenance grant increases By Rachel Garvey Students ranging from undergraduates to PhD are able to financially benefit from the new 2024 budget that brought into effect the increase in student maintenance grants. Postgraduates can expect the return of an increased grant for their courses which has not seen an increase in over a decade, while PhD students will be eligible for a €3,000 increase for their funding. The Citizens Information state, “maintenance grant rates will increase by €615 for all non-adjacent rates and by 10% for adjacent rates from September 2024 and a pro-rota increase will be available from January 2024”. The cost-of-living prices is leaving a large percentage of students suffering and unable to afford basic needs while accommodation prices are still high. Student accommodation in Galway on campus stands at €5,895 for a private en suite double and €3,285 for a standard
twin room in Corrib Village, €6,525 for an en suite single and €6,660 for an en suite double in Goldcrest Village. Students can explore other options and rates on the Student Residences section on The University of Galway’s website. The grant increase will alleviate the pressure of contribution costs to over 96,000 students, but it will simultaneously be a small financial benefit to relieving the pressure off cost of accommodations. SIN spoke to University of Galway’s President, Ciarán Ó hOgartaigh, who stated: “I welcome this increase and continue to encourage the Government to go further, particularly for students in need. We have been to the fore advocating for students.” Ó hOgartaigh highlighted, “We contacted the department to alert them to the fears that people had that the rent-a-room scheme would impact their eligibility for SUSI grants and medical cards. The department amended the scheme as a consequence to increase accommodation available to students.”
A proposition was made to the scheme being developed to provide government subsidised accommodation to SUSI grant-holders and continue to work with the government to bring it to fruition in Galway. Minister for Further & Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, Simon Harris stated, “The-cost-of-living has had a real impact on families. I’ve been working really hard to reduce fees for tens of thousands of students and their families right across Ireland.” Harris numbered the amount of students that would benefit from the new increase: 10,695 students in Trinity College Dublin, 10,794 students in University of Limerick, 10,225 students in University College Cork, 15,187 students in Dublin College University and 10,926 students in University of Galway. Simon Harris also shared, “If you’re an undergraduate student, you will see your fees reduced by €1000”, the student Continued on Page 2