The Union of Students in Ireland has expressed disappointment at the outcome of a High Court challenge taken by three students, two of whom attend Galway colleges, against the Minister for Education Ruairi Quinn.
The three students had sought a judicial review of cuts made to the Higher Education Maintenance Grant scheme in the Budget last December. The hearing took place between February 23 and 24 last but judgment had been reserved until April 25.
Mr Justice Hedigan rejected the students’ case and now it is up to the USI and the individual students concerned to appeal.
The USI backed the three students whose grant payments were cut by up to 60 per cent. One, a second-year male student who attends Dundalk IT, had his payment cut by €3,700. A female third-year Clare student at NUI Galway had her grant cut by €3,900, and a second-year mature student at GMIT lost €2,440. The latter is a Galway native and a parent.
USI president Gary Redmond said he was unhappy with the verdict.
“USI and students across the country are disappointed with today’s verdict and what it will mean for thousands of hard pressed families across the country who are struggling to keep people in college,” he said.
