Cecilia Keaveney
Question:121 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Welfare the advantages, if any, to be gained by being paid unemployment assistance as opposed to being employed on a student summer job scheme. [12093/96]
Written Answers. - Students' Summer Jobs Scheme.
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:122 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will examine the case of a person (details supplied) in County Donegal who does not want to sign on for unemployment assistance in 1996 and who could get a place on a student summer job scheme but who cannot find employment. [12094/96]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:123 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether he will permit persons not wishing to draw unemployment assistance in 1996 to be placed on the students summer jobs scheme. [12097/96]
Cecilia Keaveney
Question:124 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social Welfare the respective amounts paid in respect of unemployment assistance and the student summer jobs scheme in a six week period. [12098/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 121, 122, 123 and 124 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 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 take part within the allocation for the 1996 scheme.
A student who qualifies for unemployment assistance at the current maximum weekly rate of £62.40, would receive a total amount of £374.40 over a six week period. A student can work 200 hours under the scheme for a six week period and earn £600. It is however, open to students who complete their work under the scheme in a six week period to take up employment during the remainder of the summer period in order to maximise their earnings.
As the person concerned completes a course of studies in June he is entitled to claim unemployment assistance if he cannot find work during the summer period. For the reasons already stated he is not therefore eligible to participate in the scheme.