Vol. 417 No. 3
5 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to, (1) the financial hardship endured by students each summer when they apply for unemployment assistance and (2) the reluctance of his Department to pay unemployment assistance to students who genuinely but unsuccessfully try to gain summer work; and if he proposes to change the system this year.
It is a basic condition for receipt of an unemployment payment that a claimant must be unemployed, available for and genuinely seeking work. In general, full-time attendance by day at a course of education is not regarded as being consistent with being available for employment. Full-time education normally involves a degree of commitment which would be inconsistent with availability during the academic year.
Students engaged in full-time studies may become part of the labour force on completion of their studies or after the end of their academic year in May or June. At this stage they are eligible to be considered for unemployment assistance until such time as they succeed in getting a job or resume their studies, provided they meet the statutory requirements.
Each application is processed in the normal manner and I am not aware of any reluctance on the part of my Department to pay unemployment assistance to students who satisfy the statutory conditions and who show that their means, as assessed in accordance with the relevant provisions, are less than the maximum rate payable in their specific case.
I consider that the present system is working satisfactorily and have no plans to change it.
