Vol. 482 No. 3
282 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs whether a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be approved for a back-to-work allowance scheme in view of the fact that the reason his application was late was due to the fact that he was not aware of this entitlement to apply. [18045/97]
The objective of the back-to-work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people to encourage them to return to work. The scheme has a limited number of places and it is targeted at people who need a financial incentive to return to the workforce. It is a requirement of the scheme that an applicant must apply for the allowance prior to taking up employment.
The person concerned took up employment on 24 May 1997 but did not apply for the allowance until 30 September 1997. His application was refused on the grounds that his claim was late and that he was in a position to return to the workforce without the need for the financial incentive which the scheme provides.
Information on the scheme is widely available at all the Department's local offices and at many community information outlets. It has been widely advertised and publicised, in the media. The Department's job facilitators are actively involved in promoting the scheme among the unemployed and with the various other agencies involved.
283 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused a back-to-work scheme allowance in view of the fact that he qualified under all the criteria and has secured a full-time job. [18046/97]
The objective of the back-to-work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people to leave the Live Register and return to work.
It is a requirement of the scheme that where a previously unemployed person returns to employment the job must be a new one and it must result in an increase in the workforce. Seasonal, short-term, part-time or contract work is not covered by the scheme, the purpose of which is to assist people into long-term sustainable employment.
The person concerned is employed as a boner in a local meat factory. This work is of a short-term contractual nature and is therefore not suitable employment for the purposes of the scheme.
284 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the criteria to be an approved employer under the guidelines for the back-to-work allowance scheme. [18047/97]
The objective of the back-to-work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people to return to work either as employees or self-employed persons.
It is a requirement of the scheme that the position must be a new job and must result in an increase in the workforce. An employer may not use the scheme to displace an existing worker with a worker who is receiving a payment under the scheme. Work of a seasonal, short-term, or part-time nature is not acceptable under the scheme. Work of a contractual or commission nature is also not acceptable.
Employers who can provide suitable new jobs which meet the above criteria are generally eligible to participate.
