Vol. 510 No. 3
317 Cecilia Keaveney asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the situation whereby people who, through a means test, qualify for a third level education grant, have to undergo an independent means test for the summer student job scheme and the cost that this incurs in administration; and to make a statement on the need for two such similar exercises. [22597/99]
342 Mr. Penrose asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he has satisfied himself that his Department is treating fairly those children of self-employed persons who apply for participation in the summer student scheme grant in so far as there is a clear failure to allow capital allowances to be deducted from profits to compute the net income position; his view on whether the method used by his Department treats fairly those individuals who have to use substantial amounts of business assets and different methods of financing these assets; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22663/99]
It is proposed to take Questions Nos. 317 and 342 together.
The purpose of the students summer jobs scheme is to provide income support to students of less well off families who are unable to obtain summer work and are disqualified from claiming unemployment assistance. As the scheme is targeted at students who cannot qualify for unemployment assistance the means test which must be satisfied in order to participate is broadly similar to that currently applicable for qualification for unemployment assistance.
In the case of self-employed people, the means test for unemployment assistance, which is set out in legislation takes into account income from self-employment less any expenses necessarily incurred. This also applies to the means test for the students summer jobs scheme.
