Sir, - The announcement that the Minister for Education is to set up a central agency through which third-level maintenance grants will be administered has to be welcomed. Students' unions across the country have prioritised the issue this summer and it is heart-warming to see real progress being made.
This decision will make a big difference to the many students across the country who have experienced massive delays while waiting for their grant to come through. In some cases, students have had to wait until December before receiving their first instalment!
The new central agency, which it is hoped will operate along similar lines to that of the CAO, should cut down on bureacracy and speed up the process so that students can receive their grants on time throughout the year. It is good to see a politician honouring an election promise. - Yours etc.,
Education Officer/Vice-President, UCD, Students Union, Dublin 4.