Vol. 522 No. 2
332 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused under the student summer job scheme; the way in which her parents' income was assessed, giving a detailed breakdown of the calculations, including allowances; the amount she was over the guidelines; and if the application can be reassessed. [18083/00]
In order to qualify for participation in the students summer jobs scheme, students must satisfy a means test which is broadly similar to the means test which applies to applicants for unemployment assistance. In assessing means, account is taken of the parent's gross income less income tax, PRSI, superannuation, private health insurance, union fees, rent or mortgage payments and some travel costs. The weekly means of the student are then assessed at 17% of the net family income calculated on this basis.
In the case of the person concerned the calculation of her weekly means was arrived at as follows:
|
£ |
|
|
Fortnightly income of her Father |
1,583 per week |
|
Less |
|
|
Tax |
328 per week |
|
PRSI |
44 per week |
|
Superannuation |
23 per week |
|
V.H.I. |
40 per week |
|
Union Fees |
4 per week |
|
Net Fortnightly Income= |
1,144 per week |
|
Net Weekly Income= |
572 per week |
|
Less Travel Costs of £15.00= |
557 per week |
|
Means assessed at 17%= |
95 per week |
333 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the measures he has taken to improve the position of the married woman who has worked for many years full-time in the home rearing children or who is still working full-time in the home rearing children; his intentions in this regard; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18086/00]
335 Mr. Haughey asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to provide for pensions for married women who have worked full-time in the home for many years in their own right and not just as qualified adult dependants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18092/00]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 333 and 335 together.
This Government is committed, as set out in An Action Programme for the Millennium, to provide a mechanism to allow women who take time out from the paid workforce for family reasons to continue contributions for pension purposes. This recognises that women who leave the workforce to undertake family responsibilities in the home can face difficulties in maintaining their social insurance record.
Certain measures have already been introduced to address this issue. Under the homemakers scheme, introduced in 1994, years spent out of the workforce caring either for children up to the age of six, increased to age 12 from 6 April 1995, or incapacitated people may be disregarded in calculating the person's yearly average number of contributions for old age contributory pension purposes. A maximum of 20 years may be disregarded in this way. Provision is also made for the award of credited contributions in the year in which a person commences or ceases to be a homemaker. In addition, earnings of up to £30 per week where a person is engaged in part-time employment outside the home are also permitted.
The pro-rata pensions which I introduced in November 1997 and the new arrangements to take account of pre-1953 contributions, which came into effect from 5 May this year, will also benefit many women who have gaps in their PRSI records because of time spent working full-time in the home.
336 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason students doing summer jobs are not entitled to an hourly minimum wage and are expected to work for £3.00 per hour, in view of the fact that those who are not students doing similar work are entitled to £4.40; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18254/00]
The students summer jobs scheme operates this year from 1 June to 30 September during which approved students will be allowed undertake 200 hours work in community based projects at £3 per hour, giving a total maximum payment of £600.
The scheme does not fall within the scope of the national minimum wage legislation and therefore the minimum wage will not apply. The work carried out by students under the scheme is of a community nature and it cannot be compared with normal commercial type activity. It is not my intention to increase the hourly rate of pay this year.
