Covid-19: Students frustrated at missing out on £500 help
By Michael Sheils McNamee
image captionStudents in full-time education in Northern Ireland are to receive £500
Some students in Northern Ireland have expressed frustration at missing out on a newly-announced support payment.
On Thursday, Economy Minister Diane Dodds said £500 would be given to students due to disruption caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Almost 40,000 students in universities and further education colleges are set to benefit from the money.
But part-time students and non-EU students based in Northern Ireland look set to miss out.
Northern Ireland students in other regions of the UK and the Republic of Ireland are also not eligible and Deputy First Minister Michelle O Neill has raised that issue with the Department for the Economy, which is issuing the payments.
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Public funds are to be used to assist students in Northern Ireland cover rent this year as they cope with remote learning and in some cases not being able to use accommodation they have already paid for.
The Northern Ireland economy minister, Diane Dodds, has written to all the province’s higher education institutions to remind them of their responsibilities regarding student welfare and to urge them to take all possible steps to ensure students are supported.
In her letter the minister calls upon the higher education providers to take account of students being “trapped” in accommodation contracts which they can no longer use, and to take action such as providing rental holidays or release from contracts for halls of residence.
The Minister met Queen’s University Belfast and Ulster University and has written to all the local higher education institutions, to remind them of their responsibilities regarding student welfare and to ask them to take all possible steps to ensure students are receiving the support they need.
The Minister said, “I am very conscious of the hardship that so many students are facing as a result of the pandemic.
“My priority is to support the wellbeing of students and enable them to complete their courses and secure excellent outcomes.
“I am working to secure significant additional funding, as soon as possible, that will benefit students directly.
Public funds are to be used to assist students in Northern Ireland pay rent this year as they cope with remote learning and in some cases not being able to use accommodation they have already paid for.