Liz O'Donnell
Question:3 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of students who were in receipt of unemployment assistance during the period June to September for each of the years 1990 to 1992.
Ceisteanna — Questions. Oral Answers. - Unemployment Assistance.
No precise statistics are collected on the numbers of students that claim unemployment assistance during the summer vacation. However, it is estimated having regard to changes in the live register, approximately 10,000 students claimed unemployment assistance following the summer examinations in 1991 and 12,000 in 1992.
Does the Minister have any evidence in the figures he has given as to the number of fraudulent claims by students? If so, how many prosecutions were taken and how many convictions were obtained? The Minister in his speech said that the cost to the Exchequer of paying for student dole in the summer is £8 million. He referred to a doomsday scenario when all students claimed and moved into flats and he put a figure of £60 million on that. What is the reason for this exclusion of entitlement to dole for students in the summer? If the reason relates to abuse the Minister should convince us of that by bringing forward at least a prima facie case. That is not being done.
I am anxious to assist the Deputy to elicit information, but she is entering into an area of policy. The Deputy's question was essentially statistical in that she asked the number of students who were in receipt of unemployment assistance during a particular period. If the Deputy wants to ask questions in relation to policy she will have to put down specific questions.
We have had much talk on policy today. There should be figures relating to fraud.
Fraud is a separate and distinct matter worthy of a separate question.
I do not agree.
It is a long standing procedure in this House, Deputy. I am sorry to disappoint you.