Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2004
1289 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason third level students who are available for but fail to secure summer employment cannot be considered for unemployment assistance in view of the fact that the student summer jobs scheme has been discontinued; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21228/04]
Amharc ar fhreagraA person is disqualified from receipt of unemployment assistance while attending a course of study, including school/college holiday periods. Unemployment benefit is not affected by this measure. The disqualification does not apply in all cases. For instance, it does not apply to mature students, or people aged 21 years or over who were in receipt of an unemployment payment for at least six months immediately prior to commencing an approved course of education, training or development. In such cases, unemployment assistance may be paid during summer holidays, subject to the usual conditions being fulfilled regarding means, availability for work and genuinely seeking work. A mature student is defined as a person over 23 years of age on or before 1 January in the year in which the course of study commenced. There are no plans to change existing arrangements in this regard.
