CAO helpdesk: grants and loans

Guidance counsellors Brian Howard and Deirdre Garrett answer questions asked on our live blog

How can I find out if I qualify for a grant?

Go onto susi.ie . There is an eligibility reckoner where you can quickly and easily self-assess whether you may be entitled to a grant.

I got 435. I never budgeted for accommodation in Limerick and I don’t think I’m eligible for grants but is there any other financial assistance that can be sought?

The only source of help that may or may not be applicable in your case is a fund in the college student unions from the welfare officer. This fund is for students who are experiencing hard times financially and could be of assistance to you with accommodation. A good idea may be to ring the student union of the college concerned and ask to speak to the welfare officer and he/she will give you a definitive answer on this.

I received an offer of a place and want to go to college. My parents’ income is over the threshold for grant assistance. Due to debt, they are not in a position to support me financially and we live in rural Ireland. How can I go to college?

I’m very sorry to hear of your situation. It is very upsetting to hear of someone who is ambitious enough to want to go to third level and get a better education but, because of money issues, is finding it difficult to take up the offer. Obviously I don’t know the full details of your situation but it sounds as if you are very constrained. One thing that comes to mind is the option of deferring your place and spending the year working yourself and saving to try to raise funds to get to college next year. By this time your parents’ situation may have improved also and you might be in a better position overall to take up your college place. The evidence seems to suggest that quite a few students are in this position where they are forced to take a year out to work and save for their education.