Vol. 467 No. 7
313 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change the rules for eligibility for the student summer job scheme in order to facilitate organisations who cannot fill vacancies and to facilitate students who have completed two years of study and who intend returning to college to complete a higher diploma course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14303/96]
314 Ms. F. Fitzgerald asked the Minister for Social Welfare the reason mature students aged 23 years or older attending third level educational establishments are ineligible for the student summer jobs scheme; and his views on whether this ruling is a form of discrimination on the grounds of age. [14332/96]
315 Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Welfare whether persons attending a university in the Northern Ireland, who are normally resident in this State, are entitled to participate in the student summer jobs scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14338/96]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 313, 314 and 315 together.
The underlying purpose of the student summer jobs scheme is to provide income support for the less well off third level students who are disqualified by law since 1993 from receiving unemployment assistance and are unable to find summer work.
Priority is given to enabling the maximum number of such eligible students to participate within the overall financial allocation of £10.2 million for 1996 scheme. Mature students and students who have completed a course of study are not excluded from unemployment assistance if they are unable to obtain work.
Students, who are normally resident in the State and are attending third level institutions in Northern Ireland, are allowed to participate provided that they satisfy the qualifying conditions.
