Smart card abuse uncovered

Fifty outlets have been suspended from the student smart card scheme after they were caught selling unauthorised products.

Some of the items being sold at these shops were non-educational items and included mobile top-up cards, casual clothing and even a weightlifting set.

An Education Ministry spokes­man said 14 shops were suspended indefinitely, while a further 34 outlets were suspended for periods varying from two days to three weeks. The shops included stationeries, but the bulk were sport shops.

The state-funded smart card is meant to be used to purchase items for educational purposes, but sources said students were blatantly abusing the service, even using their smart card to buy make-up and clothes.

Known as the maintenance grant, the smart card, which looks like a credit card, is given to every student who receives a stipend. The amount, which is topped up at the beginning of every scholastic year, dependson the course students are following.

Students in post-secondary sector receive a top-up of €232.94 every year. University students taking ‘normal’ degree and diploma courses receive a one-time grant of €465.87 and €465.87 per academic year to partly cover expenses related to educational material and equipment. A typical five-year course student would receive a total of €2,795.

However, students taking what are known as ‘prescribed’ degree courses (Information Technology, Science and Engineering) receive a one-time grant of €698.81, and a sum of €698.81 per academic year.

Any outstanding amount on the smart card at the end of a scholastic year is automatically carried over to the next year when the card is once again topped up. These amounts are over and above the €84 stipend paid every four weeks and €147 for the ‘prescribed’ students.

The Students Maintenance Board has four inspectors who use smart cards to randomly buy products from authorised shops to determine whether they are abusing thesystem. The spokesman said this was why no action was taken against the students.

He said retail outlets applying to join the student smart card scheme signed an agreement which bound them to sell only educational items or clothing used for the practice of sports at educational institutions.

The agreement also laid down suspension from the system if this condition is not respected.

Some 500 shops accept smart cards and there are 18,000 students who receive a stipend and therefore have a smart card.

According to records held by the board, 30 per cent of money put in smart cards was spent at bookshops; 25 per cent at computer shops; 15 per cent on sportswear; 16 per cent at newsagents; 10 per cent in binding of thesis, medical equipment, hair-dressing and beauty therapy material.