Call for higher grants for students renting in dublin

A Leitrim councillor has called on the Government to increase the student maintenance grant by 25% for students renting in Dublin due to the exhorbitant rents in the capital.

Cllr Martin Kenny tabled the motion at the September meeting of Leitrim County Council proposing that the rates of maintenance grant for students renting in Dublin be increased 'by at least 25%' to reflect the high cost of accommodation.

The motion was unanimously supported by all the members of Leitrim County Council.

Cllr Kenny explained, “Many students from rural areas are finding it hard to get accommodation in Dublin and are then paying excessive rent, often up to double what it would be in other areas.  The maintenance grant is there to support students who are living at and near the university or college they attend and it needs to reflect the reality of the extremely high rents in Dublin.  

'Other supports like the rent supplement scheme, for people who are on the housing list and renting private houses, have different rates of assistance depending on the area and in Dublin it is higher than the rest of the country.  There is of course pressure on Government to intervene in the rental market and cap the rising rents, especially in Dublin, but even if that were to happen, the student maintenance grant is nowhere near the mark when it comes to renting in the capital.”

As part of his motion, Cllr Kelly, who will stand in the general election, also called on the Government to review the SUSI student grant scheme. He claimed 'delays and red tape continues to frustrate families'.