Vol. 477 No. 5
264 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason there is a lower age limit for the student summer jobs scheme, the consequence of which is that a number of students who have completed a year in third-level education are not entitled to participate on this scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9600/97]
The student summer jobs scheme was originally introduced to provide income support for third level students who were debarred from receiving unemployment assistance during the summer months. To qualify for unemployment assistance a person had to be 18 years of age and consequently this became the lower age limit for participation in the scheme.
Up to last year a student, in order to qualify for the scheme, had to have reached 18 on or before 1 June. However, following representations made to me that this requirement was precluding students who reached that age during the summer months from taking part in the scheme, I decided that students who attained 18 years during the duration of the scheme, i.e., by 31 August 1996 could qualify. It is estimated that this change allowed about 60 more students to participate in the 1996 scheme. The same rule will apply again this year, and, accordingly, any student who reaches the age of 18 years prior to 31 August 1997 and who satisfies the means test for eligibility and all other requirements of the scheme will be allowed to take part in the scheme.
