Joe Walsh
Question:143 Mr. J. Walsh asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will allow student nurses currently doing the new university course to participate in the student summer jobs scheme. [7508/96]
Written Answers. - Student Summer Jobs Scheme.
The students summer jobs scheme was a major success again last year and proved to be of significant benefit to local communities and voluntary groups. Many valuable projects have been undertaken by students over the past three years which would otherwise not have been carried out. The students also gained valuable work experience and are generally pleased with the scheme. The underlying purpose of the scheme is to provide income support for the less well off third level students who are disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance and are unable to obtain summer work. Student nurses attending third level institutions are pursuing three year diploma courses as part of their training with designated hospitals. During the summer months they are required to continue their training in the hospital to which they have been assigned. They are not, therefore, available to participate in the scheme.