Skip to main content
Normal View

Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 22 May 1996

Vol. 465 No. 7

Written Answers. - Students' Summer Jobs Scheme.

Mary Harney

Question:

15 Miss Harney asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason students who had participated in the students summer jobs scheme in previous years are being prevented from working in this scheme 1996 and are being informed that they may claim unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10383/96]

Cecilia Keaveney

Question:

30 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will review the student job scheme in order to reintroduce an extra payment to participants whose parents are social welfare recipients; if he will make a general increase in payments to participants on the scheme; and if he will make the scheme available to those who have completed the leaving certificate examination. [10422/96]

I propose to take Questions Nos. 15 and 30 together.

The underlying purpose of the students' summer jobs 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. Taking account of the upward trend in the number of students participating in the scheme since its inception, this year priority is being given to enabling the maximum number of eligible students, who have no other means of support, to take part within the allocation for the 1996 scheme which is £10.2 million. The main focus of the scheme this year is to provide places for students who are disqualified from claiming unemployment assistance. Students who still have a legal right to claim unemployment assistance during the summer period—such as mature students and those who have completed their courses—are not deprived of income support and, therefore, are not eligible for the scheme.

It was decided to discontinue the special additional allowance of £1 per hour to students whose parents are dependent on social welfare payments in this year's scheme for a number of reasons as follows:— (i) a survey indicated that most students who participated in the scheme showed that 86 per cent expressed satisfaction with the basic rate of payment i.e. £3.00 per hour; (ii) some students felt that it was unfair to have two rates of pay applying to the same work; (iii) many took up the option of engaging in other part-time work which is allowed under the scheme. Many of the students completed their hours over a six-week period and this represents a payment of £100 net per week which I am satisfied represents a very generous tax free payment, and (iv) because of the upward trend in the numbers availing of the scheme, the discontinuance of the allowance will allow the maximum number of eligible students to take part.
Leaving certificate students have been previously precluded from the scheme. It is not my intention to include them in this year's scheme.
Top
Share