Student union welcomes official grants website, but warns of rise in rents

A new website, studentfinance.ie, has been welcomed by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI), but the union also recently claimed a rise in rents.

The new site was launched this week by the Higher Education Authority as a guide to student grants, it is the first official website of its kind. 

USI president, Hamid Khodabakhshi, said: "This website is essential viewing for every student, school-leaver and final year student".

"The USI hopes that studentfinance.ie will make the subject of applying for supports less daunting. This is one way of supporting more students to continue in education".

Last week the USI also warned that students could soon be forced to decide with collage they attend based on what they claimed was a “soaring” rise in private rent and a shortage of affordable accommodation.

The student’s union called on the Minister for the Environment, John Gormley, to establish a student accommodation taskforce.

"The student grant was not raised adequately last August, so students are measurably worse off compared to 12 months ago. Ministers need to get real about what it costs students to support themselves," said Paul Lynam, USI eastern area officer.

"Once Minister Gormley fulfills his promise to establish a Student Accommodation Taskforce, one of the first things USI will propose is immediate Government investment in purpose-built student accommodation".