Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 7 Oct 1998

Vol. 494 No. 5

Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.

John Browne

Question:

57 Mr. Browne (Carlow-Kilkenny) asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the numbers availing of the back to work allowance scheme for each year since its commencement; the numbers who will successfully remain at work when the scheme expires; and the plans, if any, he has to relax the qualifying criteria for this scheme. [18689/98]

Breeda Moynihan-Cronin

Question:

122 Mrs. B. Moynihan-Cronin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of people who have left the live register and gone on the back to work allowance scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18811/98]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

I propose to take Question Nos. 57 and 122 together.

The back to work allowance was introduced in September 1993 to encourage long-term unemployed people to return to the active labour force.

Since then, over 40,000 people who were long-term unemployed or lone parents have availed of the allowance to take up new jobs as either employees or self employed persons. Of that number, approximately 5,600 people have completed the full three year cycle of support provided by the back to work allowance.

The numbers availing of the scheme at the end of each year since 1993 are as follows:

Year	Participants
1993	250
1994	2,400
1995	10,120
1996	16,146
1997	21,100
1998	22,500 (to date)

A detailed independent evaluation of the scheme published late last year forecast a success rate for the scheme of 60 per cent for the self employed and 39 per cent for employed participants.

A preliminary survey conducted last year of those who had completed the three year cycle found that 85 per cent were still off the live register six months after the allowance had expired. A further evaluation of the scheme with particular reference to those who did and did not complete the three year cycle is planned for later this year.

The qualifying criteria for the scheme are kept under review and any changes would be considered in the context of the budget.