Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 25 Jun 1996

Vol. 467 No. 4

Written Answers. - Students' Summer Jobs Scheme.

Hugh Byrne

Ceist:

232 Mr. H. Byrne asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether the level of refusal in respect of the students' summer jobs scheme of almost one in four is too high in view of his reply to Parliamentary Question No. 279 of 18 June 1996; his views on whether students in continuing third level education, though different to aspects of the course they are taking, are eligible for the scheme; if he will grant them a place on the scheme where required; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13549/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The underlying purpose of the students' summer jobs scheme is to provide income support for the less well off third level students who have been disqualified by law since 1993 from receiving unemployment assistance during the summer period and are unable to obtain work.

Students who have completed a course of study are not disqualified from claiming unemployment assistance and are, therefore, not eligible for the scheme. It is not my intention to modify this year's scheme to allow such students to take part.

The level of participation of students in the 1996 scheme is expected to be at least as high as the 1995 participation level. The primary reason the number of students who have been refused entry to this year's scheme is higher than last year is that this year I decided to limit participation to those less well off students who have no alternative income support from my Department during the summer months if they cannot find work.

Éamon Ó Cuív

Ceist:

233 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason no extra payment is being made under the students' summer job scheme in 1996 to students whose parents are reliant on social welfare payments; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13557/96]

Minister for Social Welfare (Proinsias De Rossa)

The primary reason for the decision to discontinue the payment of £200 under the 1996 students' summer jobs scheme to students whose parents are reliant on social welfare payments was to allow the maximum number of eligible students from low income families who are denied unemployment assistance as a result of legislation passed in 1993 to avail of the scheme this year within the budget allocation of £10.2 million. This is £4 million more than the budget allocation of last year and £5.4 million more than the budget allocation of 1994.