SDLP Economy spokesperson and Foyle MLA Sinead McLaughlin
The call for student support comes on the back of an SDLP survey, which showed huge numbers of our students are in financial distress and 94% of students reporting poor mental health as a result of the pandemic.
“Yesterday in the Assembly Chamber, myself and SDLP colleagues raised the plight of third level students, who have virtually ignored by the Economy Minister.
“Her responses were less than satisfactory as she continually told us she is having conversations.
“Students do not need to hear obfuscation or passing the buck from Minister Dodds, they need action and direct financial support.
“I welcome the fact that the DUP Minister Dodds has confirmed she will seek additional funds to support students, as belated as this realisation may be.
“However, the Minister needs to recognise the many issues with her previous support schemes and implement a one-off hardship payment, directly to every full time student from Northern Ireland. This must include students in Further Education colleges.
“A payment of £500 to every Northern Ireland student would cost approximately £32 million, just a fraction of the £105 million the Department for Economy has handed back unspent in recent days.
“The DUP Minister must implement such a scheme with any further delay.”
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