Mathematical Error Leaves Clare Students Out Of Pocket

Lightholler

The County Clare Vocational Educational Committee is being called upon to repay thousands of Euro in Third Level Grant aid to over fifty students from the Shannon Town area. Clare Fine Gael General Election candidate Cllr. Tony Mulcahy has learned that a mathematical miscalculation by Clare VEC has resulted in the Shannon students attending Limerick’s three Third Level and PLC Institutions being deemed ineligible to qualify for the grants.

Earlier this year, Clare VEC informed Shannon parents who had children attending Mary Immaculate College of Education, Limerick Institute of Technology and the University of Limerick that, as they lived less than 15 miles from the Institutes, they would not qualify for the non adjacent rate of the Third Level Grant. The decision resulted in parents missing out on additional grant aid of EUR1855. However, Cllr. Mulcahy has this week been informed by Clare VEC that a revaluation of the distance between Shannon Town and the Institutes has found that it is greater than the 15-mile minimum distance outlined under the Non Adjacent terms of the Third Level Grant.

According to Cllr. Mulcahy, “I am now calling on County Clare VEC to repay all monies owed to those who were previously told they were not eligible for the non adjacent rate of the Third Level Grant. At a time when third level fees and associated costs are continuing to rise, it is only fair and proper that Clare VEC identifies and repays all monies owed to parents. After all, they were incorrectly informed that their sons and daughters were ineligible for the non-adjacent rate of the grant.”

Mr. Mulcahy added that he would be writing to County Clare VEC to review all third level applications it has received in the past, as it is highly feasible that this situation may have been repeated in other parts of County Clare. “Any parent who has been owed grant aid should have the money retrospectively paid back to them. I am concerned that the Shannon Town situation may not be unique and that other people around Clare have been incorrectly informed by Clare VEC that they were ineligible for the full grant”, Cllr. Mulcahy concluded.

bubblicious

yet again another stupid governmental cock up...

ninty9er

In fairness, most of those people can commute which is probably what the VEC was getting at. The higher rate is for people who have to live on/around campus as home is tooo far away.