Vol. 430 No. 6
4 Mr. Allen asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the new work schemes planned for students; and the discussions, if any, that have taken place with community and voluntary groups arising from his decision to withdraw unemployment assistance from students.
30 Ms O'Donnell asked the Minister for Social Welfare the specific summer job schemes which he has set in place to provide work for students who have been disqualified from unemployment assistance by section 14 of the Social Welfare Act, 1993; when they will commence; the counties in which they will operate; the type of work being offered to students; and the organisations or sponsors that have indicated a willingness to participate.
42 Mr. Gilmore asked the Minister for Social Welfare the latest position regarding his proposals to introduce a scheme of summer work for students as an alternative to paying unemployment assistance; the total number of places which will be available; the proposed level of remuneration; the date from which the posts will be available; the period for which they will run; the voluntary or community organisations that have agreed to participate in the scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
71 Mr. Molloy asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give details of the summer work scheme for students who would otherwise qualify for unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
I propose to take Questions Nos. 4, 30, 42 and 71 together. This year's Social Welfare Act provides that students in full time education will no longer be eligible to receive unemployment assistance except in circumstances and subject to such conditions and for such periods as may be prescribed in regulations. I propose to make regulations shortly which will exempt categories such as mature students and students participating in educational schemes for the long term unemployed.
As I have already announced in the House, a new summer jobs scheme for students will be introduced this summer. The new scheme will cater for full time students who cannot get summer jobs and who are no longer eligible to receive unemployment assistance during their summer holidays by virtue of this year's Social Welfare Act. The new regulations will also provide for students living at home who cannot get work under the new scheme and whose families are dependent on social welfare payments.
The new scheme will operate for ten weeks during the period 1 July to 30 September 1993 and will allow students who would formerly have been eligible for unemployment assistance of £15 or more per week to earn up to £400 over the ten week period of the scheme. Voluntary organisations, community groups and public bodies with suitable work will be able to participate as sponsors. Payments under the scheme will be made to participating students by the sponsors who will in turn be reimbursed by my Department.
I have discussed the new scheme with representatives of a number of voluntary organisations and the initial response has been very positive. This initial contact will now be followed up by advertisements in relevant publications seeking applications from sponsors and students wishing to participate in the scheme. Earlier this week, during a visit to Cork to open a public service information exhibition, I launched new information leaflets and application forms for both students and sponsors. My Department will be undertaking a direct mail-shot of information leaflets to a wide range of voluntary organisations and community groups.
Arrangements are in place within my Department to collate responses and to compile detailed lists of participating sponsors in each region. This information will be made available to students who apply to participate in the scheme. Responsibility for approaching sponsors to secure jobs under this innovative scheme rests with the students themselves.
The type of work envisaged under the scheme will be non-commercial in nature and will enable students to engage in a wide range of activities of enormous benefit to their own communities. The scheme will also give sponsors an opportunity to improve and develop their own services for the good of society as a whole. I am confident that many students and sponsors will welcome and support this initiative.
May I ask the Minister what voluntary organisations he has spoken to about the summer scheme and what commitments has he received from those organisations that they will provide the 12,000 jobs necessary to cater for the students who will be cut off? Is the Minister aware that it is the view of many organisations that this scheme is a charade and a smokescreen for one of the most callous measures imposed on students? This is not a works programme but a cost cutting exercise similar to one of the last acts of the Margaret Thatcher Government.
I do not think it would be appropriate for me to mention the specific voluntary organisations here. These organisations will obviously come forward now as the scheme has been launched this week. A number of organisations dealing with people with disabilities and with community work projects during the summer period approached me after the measure was announced in the House and I am confident that a large number of opportunities will be provided by these bodies.
I consider this a copycat cost-cutting exercise similar to the measure imposed in Britain. If there are so many jobs available in the community why are they not made available to the long term unemployed at a reasonable wage?
There are jobs available during the summer period which are not available at other times of the year and therefore they are not suitable for people seeking full time employment. On the other hand there are people in the voluntary sector who would be anxious to see such a scheme running for the whole year, and I am considering that matter. There is a voluntary work option scheme in place at present which is available to people who are long term unemployed. That scheme is considered as part of a programme being developed at present. In some cases worth-while options and experience is provided — for instance, Incare, with assistance from my Department, provides 25 training places for those who assist people with disabilities, particularly people in wheelchairs. Last Saturday another scheme was launched in the voluntary sector for respite care, again with a training element, and the Soroptomists are developing that scheme. I agree with the Deputy that there is much scope for that kind of development and I will be very flexible in relation to proposals in that regard.
Question No. 5 from the same Deputy.
A Cheann Comhairle——
Order, the Deputy may not intervene.
I appreciate that, but there is a question down in the name of Deputy Gilmore——
Please, Deputy De Rossa. The Deputy knows he is guilty of flagrant disorder.
I am not being disorderly. I want to protest about the fact that the question——
The Deputy may not intervene at this stage.
——on this issue was taken——
These are priority questions and only Members who tabled these questions are entitled to put supplementary questions, as Deputy De Rossa knows full well.
The Minister is ignoring the injustice to very many people——
The Deputy is guilty of gross disorder and he must desist.
——who have no jobs. How will these people survive between now and 1 July?
Let us have a reply to Question No. 5.
How will these people survive——
I must ask the Deputy to leave the House.
I would like to know——
Deputy De Rossa will leave the House if he persists.
May I ask one short question?
No. This is a very serious violation of the procedures. I have called No. 5 and it will be responded to.
Has the Minister spoken to the trade unions and the social partners about this issue?
Let us not forget the time factor in dealing with these questions.
There is no difficulty involved. Most of the positions on offer are occasional summertime voluntary jobs.
How will these people survive between now and 1 July? The Minister should reply to that question.
