Vol. 567 No. 1
416 Mr. Naughten asked the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs if his attention has been drawn to the impact which the removal of the student summer jobs scheme will have on many rural schools; if he will consider the provision of a similar scheme for such schools; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13344/03]
The primary purpose of the students summer jobs scheme was to provide income support for less well off students who were not entitled to receive unemployment assistance during the summer months. As I have stated in the House on a number of occasions, there had been a significant decline in interest in the scheme due to the availability of alternative well-paid summer employment in recent years – see appendix following – and, against this background, it was decided to discontinue the scheme.
In 2002, a total of 4,632 students participated in the scheme, of which 493 worked in schools. This figure relates to colleges and schools throughout the country, in both rural and urban areas. In the circumstances, I do not expect the discontinuance of the scheme will have major implications for rural schools.
My Department does not have any plans to provide a specific scheme for rural schools, as referred to by the Deputy. I understand that many of the students working in schools under the student summer jobs scheme were involved in maintenance-type work. In this regard, the Deputy may be aware that the Department of Education and Science operates a minor works grant scheme, which provides funding for minor repairs and refurbishments of this nature in schools.
Appendix 1
Scheme Statistics
|
2002 |
2001 |
2000 |
1999 |
1998 |
|
|
Sponsors |
|||||
|
Applications received |
3,057 |
3,255 |
3,991 |
4,671 |
4,599 |
|
Rejected |
3 |
4 |
16 |
31 |
31 |
|
Approved |
3,054 |
3,251 |
3,964 |
4,640 |
4,568 |
|
Jobs Offered |
15,100 |
15,233 |
20,961 |
23,473 |
31,552 |
|
Number who participated |
1,918 |
2,037 |
2,406 |
3,190 |
3,572 |
|
Students |
|||||
|
Applications |
7,702 |
8,090 |
10,078 |
15,833 |
20,930 |
|
Approved |
5,554 |
6,081 |
7,379 |
11,903 |
16,104 |
|
Rejected |
1,854 |
2,009 |
2,337 |
3,414 |
4,326 |
|
Worked |
4,632 |
4,965 |
5,878 |
9,200 |
13,521 |
