Dáil Éireann debate -
Thursday, 20 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 3

Written Answers. - Rent Allowance Scheme.

John O'Leary

Question:

41 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will agree to enter into increased consultation with the Union of Students of Ireland with regard to the proposed reform of the rent allowance scheme and in relation to the national anti-poverty strategy. [12941/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

First, I should explain that under subsection 172(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, people in full-time education are excluded from entitlement to assistance, including rent supplements, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, SWA, scheme. However, subsection 172 (2) allows a person in a full-time education an entitlement to SWA, including rent supplements, in respect of their adult or child dependants.

Article 7 of SI 382 of 1995 also allows persons participating in specified second chance educational schemes to retain SWA secondary benefits, such as rent supplements, which they may have qualified for prior to participation on the scheme. Any extension of rent supplementation to students would have major financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.

Regarding the second part of the Deputy's question relating to the national anti-poverty strategy, the development of the whole strategy has been characterised a process of "inclusive" consultation. This is perhaps not surprising considering that the issue is one of how to tackle social "exclusion".

The first stage in the consultation process involved an invitation, by way of an information leaflet which was circulated to a very wide range of interested organisations last year, seeking views on the content of the strategy and the process by which it should be prepared. The Union of Students of Ireland, USI, submitted a paper at that time. Two hundred and forty one submissions, including USI's contribution, have been summarised, published and circulated for consideration.

The second stage in the consultation process took place last January when regional seminars on the strategy were held in Dublin, Cork, Galway and Monaghan. A further major process of consultation in relation to the strategy is planned in the near future and the Union of Students of Ireland will be able, in the same way as other interested organisations, to contribute to the process.