“A coucil last night backed down on its bid to link the student grant with payment of the household charge. Clare County Council has confirmed that it will send no further letters to higher education grant applicants seeking confirmation that they have paid the controversial charge …” (more)
[Pat Flynn and Luke Byrne, Independent, 22 September]
“A protest against Clare County Council’s decision to write to third level grant applicants seeking proof that their family has paid the household charge, takes place in Ennis this afternoon …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 21 September]
“Education Minister Ruairi Quinn is seeking legal advice on whether councils can delay or withhold grants from students whose parents have not paid the household charge, but he still thinks it is reasonable for them to ask …” (more)
[Niall Murray, Irish Examiner, 20 September]
“Clare County Council has no legal power to stop or reduce third-level grant to students, Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil. But he said it was entitled to ask whether applicant households had paid the household charge …” (more)
[Marie O’Halloran, Irish Times, 20 September]
“South Tipperary County Council yesterday reversed its decision to withhold payments from third-level grant applicants whose households had not paid the household charge …” (more)
[Genevieve Carbery, Irish Times, 20 September]
“The Taoiseach has said Clare County Council is not entitled to withhold grants from students who are from households that haven’t paid the household charge …” (video)
[RTÉ Six One News, 19 September]
“Taoiseach Enda Kenny has told the Dáil today that Clare County Council are not legally allowed to withhold grants from third level students …” (more)
[BreakingNews.ie, 19 September]
“South Tipperary County council has reversed its decision to withhold payments from third-level grant applicants who have not paid the household charge. It said the ‘following receipt of further advice’ today in relation to the matter, grant payments will not be withheld from applicants …” (more)
[Genevieve Carbery, Irish Times, 19 September]
“The Taoiseach has told the Dail that Clare County Council is not legally allowed to withhold grants from third level students. It emerged yesterday that the Council has written letters to grant applicants asking them if they’ve paid their household charge …” (audio)
[Today FM, 19 September]
“Education Minister to seek legal advice on councils ability to withhold grants. The Minister for Education is seeking legal advice on whether or not county councils can ask for proof of payment of the household charge – before processing student grant applications …” (audio)
[Today FM, 19 September]
“Workers’ Party Councillor Ted Tynan has said that move by some local authorities to withhold payment of student grants to children whose parents had not paid the Household Charge was a despicable act which scapegoated young people …” (more)
[Cork Politics, 19 September]
“The Union of Students of Ireland has said it will initiate legal proceedings against any local authority that withholds a student grant over failure to provide evidence of the Household Charge payment …” (audio)
[RTÉ News, 19 September]
“We’re going to return to this controversy surrounding the household charge, the decision by Clare County Council (and others, it would seem) to link the processing of college grants to payment of the charge …” (audio)
[RTÉ Morning Ireland, 19 September]
“A raft of local authorities plan to demand proof that the €100 household charge has been paid before issuing grants to the disabled and people on social welfare, the Irish Independent has learned …” (more)
[Paul Melia and Grainne Cunningham, Independent, 19 September]
“No instructions had been given to local authorities to withhold third-level grants from those refusing to pay the household charge, Minister for the Environment Phil Hogan told the Dáil …” (more)
[Michael O’Regan, Irish Times, 19 September]
“At least eight local authorities are considering following the lead of two county councils in asking third-level grant applicants to submit proof they have paid the household charge …” (more)
[Genevieve Carbery and others, Irish Times, 19 September]
“Councils requesting proof of household charge payment: Clare County Council: has asked students renewing grants for proof of payment of household charge …” (more)
[Irish Times, 19 September]
“Fianna Fail’s Environment Spokesperson Barry Cowen has written to the Data Protection Commissioner about the controversy over linking household charge payments to applications for third level grants …” (more, audio)
[BreakingNews.ie, 18 September]
“There’s been angry reaction from students and those campaigning against the household charge to news that some county councils are linking entitlements to student grants to compliance with the charge …” (video)
[RTÉ Nine News, 18 September]
“An angry reaction from students and those campaigning against the household charge to news that some county councils are linking entitlements to student grants to compliance with the charge …” (video)
[RTÉ Six One News, 18 September]
