Vol. 560 No. 1
958 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if the students summer jobs scheme will be abolished for 2003; if arrangements have been put in place in order that the scheme will go ahead in 2003 as usual; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1606/03]
959 Mr. Neville asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs the regulations for the students summer job scheme for 2003. [1684/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 958 and 959 together.
The students summer jobs scheme was first introduced in 1993 to provide income support for less well off students who were disqualified under social welfare legislation from receiving unemployment assistance during the summer months. The scheme allowed students to take up part-time work useful to their community and to receive payment for this work. When the scheme was introduced unemployment levels in Ireland were among the highest in the EU and students found it difficult during the holiday period to obtain work. Since 1997 the take up has been dropping gradually, coinciding undoubtedly with the upsurge in the economy and wider availability of alternative and well paid summer jobs. Given the financial pressures on my Department and in order to focus resources available in the best possible way, it has been decided to discontinue the students summer job scheme.
