ALMOST A THOUSAND THIRD LEVEL STUDENTS IN MAYO, WHO HAVE APPLIED FOR COLLEGE GRANTS THROUGH THE VEC, ARE STILL WAITING TO HAVE THEIR APPLICATIONS PROCESSED, ACCORDING TO MAYO FINE GAEL DEPUTY JOHN O’MAHONY.

THE DEPT OF EDUCATION HAS CONFIRMED THAT LESS THAN 500 OUT OF ALMOST 1500 APPLICATIONS TO MAYO VEC HAVE BEEN PROCESSED. FROM NEXT YEAR, THE CITY OF DUBLIN VEC WILL TAKE OVER THE AWARDING OF THIRD LEVEL GRANTS, BUT IN THE MEANTIME, DEPUTY O’MAHONY SAYS THE DELAY IN PROCESSING THIS YEAR’S APPLICATIONS IS PLACING STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES UNDER SIGNIFICANT FINANCIAL PRESSURE.

SPEAKING TO MIDWEST NEWS TODAY HE URGED MAYO VEC TO DEAL WITH THESE APPLICATIONS AS A MATTER OF PRIORITY.