Six students occupied the lobby of the Department of Social and Family Affairs today over the slashing of an allowance that helps students return to college.
They were protesting at the 25 per cent cut in the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), available to the long-term unemployed, independent parents and people on disability.
The allowance was removed almost entirely for postgraduate students, while for undergraduates, the allowance has been reduced from 12 months to nine months a year. Teaching postgraduates are exempt from the cuts.
Mr Noel Hogan of the Union of Students in Ireland (USI) said the cutbacks were part of an "overall campaign" by the Government to reduce public services. He expressed frustration that the Minister in charge, Ms Mary Coughlan, "refuses to sit down" and discuss the cuts.
Some 6,000 single parents, people with disabilities and long-term unemployed who were returning to education have received a blow "that will force many to abandon their studies", he said.
He added there "would be no respite" on the issue and a number of protests were planned through the summer months.
A spokeswoman from the Department said the Minister had "reviewed the changes", to the allowances, enacted last January. She said the cuts were part of overall budget cuts on the Department and were "not intended" to target those most vulnerable.
The "vast majority" of people getting the BTEA could work during the summer, and for the long-term unemployed "there was the option of going back onto the live register", she added.