GMIT SU TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD BOXES BUT NOT NUIG STUDENTS UNION

Date Published: 07-Jan-2013

GMIT students union will be providing food boxes to hard pressed students for semester two as the SUSI grant debacle continues

The announcement comes as the Union of Students in Ireland says many third level students still awaiting the first installment of their grants are at financial breaking point.

According to the latest figures, around 5,500 students haven't got the first installment yet and some are availing of food boxes from student unions across the country in order to get by.

In a statement NUIG students union pres Paul Curley says they're not distributing food boxes to students but acknowledges they have seen a huge increase in the amount of students accessing hardship supports this year.

He adds they've reviewed the catering service operated by the Students’ Union on campus and they have a lunchtime meal for €3.50 which allows students to stretch what little they have.

Pres of GMIT students union Joe O'Connor says they don't want students spending whole days in college hungry.