41 Mr. O'Leary asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will agree to enter into increased consultation with the Union of Students of Ireland with regard to the proposed reform of the rent allowance scheme and in relation to the national anti-poverty strategy. [12941/96]

First, I should explain that under subsection 172(1) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act, 1993, people in full-time education are excluded from entitlement to assistance, including rent supplements, under the Supplementary Welfare Allowance, SWA, scheme. However, subsection 172 (2) allows a person in a full-time education an entitlement to SWA, including rent supplements, in respect of their adult or child dependants.

Article 7 of SI 382 of 1995 also allows persons participating in specified second chance educational schemes to retain SWA secondary benefits, such as rent supplements, which they may have qualified for prior to participation on the scheme. Any extension of rent supplementation to students would have major financial implications and could only be considered in a budgetary context.