asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will change the present regulations whereby 16 to 18 year olds who are unemployed are inelligible for any form of supplementary benefit, in order to take account of the serious rise in unemployment among this age group; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

There are a number of ways in which young people aged 16 to 18 who are unemployed can benefit from State schemes. A young person who has been in insurable employment and who becomes unemployed can qualify for unemployment benefit in his or her own right. The various benefit and assistance payments made by my Department can include increases to parents in respect of qualified children until the children reach the age of 18.

Supplementary welfare allowance paid by the health boards can also include increases to parents in respect of children to the age of 18. Supplementary welfare allowance is not however normally paid to persons under the age of 18 unless it can be established that the applicant is not living at home and is not supported by a parent or guardian. The day-to-day administration of the scheme of supplementary welfare allowance is a matter for the health boards and I do not propose to intervene in the existing arrangements.

The Department of Labour Work Experience Programme caters for school leavers in the age bracket mentioned. Such young people are also covered by schemes operated by AnCO and the Youth Employment Agency and it is normal in these cases for payments of one kind or another to be made.

I would much prefer to see young people who are unemployed availing themselves of the schemes that have been specifically set up with them in mind and I would be happy if they were encouraged to look in this direction as the more positive and hopeful approach towards developing their training, their skills and their initiative.

Could the Minister say if there is sufficient work through these schemes for people between the ages of 16 and 18 years who want to avail of them? Could he tell us how many parents have sought supplementary allowances in respect of children in this age group?

I do not have the information available in regard to the second question but in the Department of Labour work experience programmes, about 5,000 young persons between 16 and 18 participated last year. Under that scheme young persons are placed in firms to gain work experience. They are paid £30 per week for the duration of the course. Likewise, as the Deputy is aware, there is a major scheme operated by AnCO for unemployed young persons and allowances are paid to them for the duration of their course. The Youth Employment Agency has a series of schemes as well. Nevertheless I am very concerned about the large number of school leavers who are still unemployed. The Department of Labour survey last year showed that the number of unemployed was about 30 per cent. I imagine it will be somewhat higher this year.

7.