Less than half the places available under the Government's student summer jobs scheme were filled last year, according to a survey by the Union of Students in Ireland (USI). The union said voluntary and community groups - who offer positions under the scheme - could not attract students because the £3-an-hour rate was not sufficient.
The USI president, Mr Philip Madden, said over half the groups surveyed called on the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs, to increase the hourly rate. Mr Cian O'Callaghan, welfare officer with USI, said reforms of the scheme were urgently required.