It has emerged that 14,000 students are applying for assistance payments with many saying it is due to the rise in the cost of rent.
Some on-campus rents are to rise by up to 12% this year.
The Union of Students in Ireland is calling for a review of the grants payments to bring it in line with the increased cost of living
Today is day 14 of a protest on the quad in UCC over a proposed 3% rent increase for student accomodation in the next academic year.
At today's Cork County Council meeting, Councillor William O' Leary brought forward a motion calling on the college to put a fixed term rent freeze on campus owned student accommodation:
