Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 5 Jun 1996

Vol. 466 No. 4

Written Answers. - Students' Summer Job Scheme.

Edward Nealon

Question:

245 Mr. Nealon asked the Minister for Social Welfare if his attention has been drawn to an anomaly in the regulations for the students' summer job scheme which affects, in particular, students in regional technical colleges who have just completed a second year leading to a certificate with a view to proceeding to a third year leading to a diploma, but are deemed ineligible to qualify under the scheme because they are technically deemed to have finished their particular education course in spite of the fact that they would be fully eligible if they were doing a three year course in a university or other institution; if he will examine this situation in view of the fact that these students will have to apply for unemployment assistance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11667/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The underlying purpose of the students' summer job scheme is to provide income support for the less well-off third level students who are debarred from qualifying for unemployment assistance during the summer months by virtue of the provisions of section 126 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993. Priority therefore is being given to enabling the maximum number of eligible students who have no other means of support to participate within the overall financial allocation for the 1996 scheme.

Students in regional technical colleges who have finished a certificate course are, under social welfare legislation, no longer attending a course of study and are thus eligible to apply for unemployment assistance during the summer if they cannot obtain employment. Such students are therefore ineligible for the students' summer job scheme.

John Ellis

Question:

246 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim is being excluded from the students' summer job scheme. [11700/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The students' summer job scheme provides income support for those third level students over 18 years of age who have been debarred from qualifying for unemployment assistance during the summer months since 1993 by virtue of the provisions of section 126 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993. These provisions do not apply to the person concerned as he will not reach 18 years of age until after this year's scheme has ended.

John Ellis

Question:

247 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason a person (details supplied) in County Leitrim is being refused participation in the students' summer job scheme. [11701/96]

John Ellis

Question:

248 Mr. Ellis asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason third-level students under 18 years of age have been excluded from the summer job scheme. [11746/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 247 and 248 together.

The students' summer job scheme provides income support for the less well-off third level students who have been debarred from qualifying for unemployment assistance during the summer months since 1993 by virtue of the provisions of section 126 of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993.

As recipients of unemployment assistance must be 18 years or over this condition also applies to the students' summer job scheme. Students cannot therefore participate in the scheme until they have reached 18 years of age.

The application of the person concerned has been examined and he does not qualify for the scheme as his weekly means exceed the qualifying limit of £60 per week.