Vol. 563 No. 5
120 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if he will make a statement on the proposed replacement of the student summer jobs scheme by new schemes operated by local partnership companies. [8376/03]
As the Deputy is no doubt aware, there has been a steady decline in the numbers availing of the student summer job scheme in the past five years. Since 1998, the take up has dropped significantly, from 13,500 in 1998 to 4,600 in 2002. This trend reflects the greater and wider availability of alternative and well paid summer jobs in recent years. In this context and in the light of financial pressures on my Department, I have decided to discontinue the student summer job scheme in 2003. I have, however, requested the area based partnerships to consider alternative measures to assist students from disadvantaged areas in finding suitable summer employment.
