Vol. 427 No. 8
132 Mr. E. Kenny asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of people in County Mayo who have qualified for the part time job incentive scheme; whether he has satisfied himself with the take up of this scheme generally; and the proposals, if any, he has for the further development of the scheme.
There are 375 persons currently participating in the Part-Time Job Incentive Scheme of which 20 reside in County Mayo. The scheme is designed to allow long term unemployed persons to work part-time for up to 24 hours a week while receiving a flat rate allowance instead of their unemployment payments. The allowances are currently £36.50 for a single person and £60 for a married person with a dependent spouse. They will be increased from July next in line with the general increase in social welfare payments.
I am not happy with the level of takeup of the scheme. Schemes of this kind which are designed to facilitate the transition from unemployment to work have considerable potential and I am looking at ways in which they can be further and more effectively developed.
