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Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Wednesday, 17 Apr 2002

Vol. 552 No. 1

Written Answers. - Summer Jobs Scheme.

Billy Timmins

Ceist:

494 Mr. Timmins asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the position regarding the student summer jobs scheme; when the rate of pay, which is ?3.85 per hour, will be raised as community schemes are finding it very difficult to attract participants due to the low rate of pay; his plans to abolish the means test for participants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12009/02]

The purpose of the student summer jobs scheme is to provide income support for less well-off students who are disqualified from receiving unemployment assistance during the summer months. The scheme allows students to take up part-time work useful to their communities and to receive payment for this work. The scheme, which was recently adver tised in the national newspapers, will operate as usual this year between 1 June and 30 September, during which period students can undertake up to 200 hours work at €3.85 per hour. An extra €1.30 per hour is paid to students whose parents are solely dependent on social welfare payments. The scheme is designed to support the students concerned and not primarily to fill all the community jobs which might be done. Furthermore, it is not designed to compete with jobs available on the open market and in fact, any diversion of employable workers from commercial employment could have a negative impact on seasonal industries which are dependent on student participation. The rates of payment and other conditions of the scheme are fixed for the current year and there are no plans to alter them.

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