asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will amend the social welfare regulations so that attendance at recognised education courses will not disqualify unemployed persons from receiving social welfare benefits; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
Written Answers. - Social Welfare Regulations.
28.
It is a condition for receipt of an unemployment payment that the unemployed person must be available for and genuinely seeking work. In general, full time attendance by day at a course of education involves a degree of commitment from the person concerned which would not be consistent with the condition of being available for work.
Within the limits of the present legislation, however, it is possible for persons to engage in education courses, without affecting their entitlements. Persons engaged in part time courses who are trying to improve their prospects of employment would generally be able to fulfil the availability for work condition. Similarly, unemployed people who attend evening classes or those who do not attend education institutions but who present themselves for examinations would also be eligible for unemployment payments, provided always that they can show that they are making continuing efforts to secure employment and that the course does not unduly restrict them in this regard.
The whole question of introducing a degree of flexibility into the unemployment payments system is at present under examination in my Department following the report of the Commission on Social Welfare. The commission drew a distinction between short term or part time education courses and long term courses and recommended that unemployed people should be enabled to participate in short term or part time education courses, perhaps up to six months duration and that unemployed people pursuing long term courses should be taken off the live register and paid under separate arrangements. These recommendations are being examined in the context of the overall examination of the commission's report.
In this regard, I should also mention the educational opportunities scheme which is being piloted in Limerick and Tallaght and which is due to finish at the end of the current academic year. This scheme gives unemployed persons the opportunity to participate in a leaving certificate type course run by their local VEC. Participants receive an allowance equivalent to their unemployment payment while attending the course. The scheme will be professionally evaluated at its conclusion and I am hopeful that useful suggestions may emerge as to how best unemployed persons who wish to do so may improve their education.