asked the Minister for Social Welfare the plans, if any, he has to allow persons aged between 16 and 18 years to sign on the live register.
Ceisteanna—Questions. Oral Answers. - Live Register.
1.
The categories of persons who may sign on the live register are insured persons who are receiving unemployment benefit or are signing for credited contributions under the social insurance system or persons in receipt of unemployment assistance.
Persons aged 16 years or over who are in employment are covered by the social insurance system. If they become unemployed they may sign on the live register and they would qualify for unemployment benefit if at least 39 contributions have been paid in respect of them. Otherwise they would be eligible to sign for credited contributions.
Persons aged between 16 and 18 years are not entitled to claim unemployment assistance. The income needs of persons in that age group were examined by the Commission on Social Welfare. The commission in their report stated that they would not support any form of income maintenance which could in any way encourage young persons to leave the education system prematurely. Extending entitlement to unemployment assistance to persons in that age group with no previous attachment to the labour force would clearly have that effect, which explains why the commission did not make such a recommendation. It would also have very significant financial implications. There are no plans for such an extension in present circumstances.