Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 21 Apr 1999

Vol. 503 No. 4

Written Answers. - Job Assist Scheme.

David Stanton

Question:

114 Mr. Stanton asked the Minister for Finance the number of employees and employers who have made applications under the job assist scheme each month since the scheme was initiated; the numbers availing of the scheme; his views on the success of the scheme; the changes, if any, he is considering; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10400/99]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy):

The Revenue job assist scheme was introduced in April of last year to complement the wide range of schemes already available to assist the long-term unemployed back into employment. The scheme is a focused two-part initiative that gives the long-term unemployed an incentive to take up employment and gives potential employers an incentive to employ a long-term unemployed person as opposed to someone else in the labour market.

The basic requirement that must be met by a person wishing to avail of the scheme is that he or she has been continuously unemployed for the immediate period of 52 weeks prior to taking up a qualifying employment and has been in receipt of UB, UA or one parent family payment. The scheme has now been extended to cater for persons with disabilities since the start of this year.

The Revenue Commissioners have informed me that their computer network is not set up in a way that would provide details on applications made each month under the job assist scheme. The computer network is designed to monitor actual take up under the scheme and I have been advised that the development of a system to track applications by employers and employees on a monthly basis would involve programming and testing of software which could only be carried out at a disproportionate cost.

According to the Revenue Commissioners up to the end of March of this year a total 1,112 cases have been issued with a tax allowance which included the job assist allowance. Of these 451 were in receipt of additional allowances in respect of children. The total amount of allowances granted in respect of these claimants was £4.27 million, of which £0.91 million is in respect of children. No figures are available on allowances granted to employers as these are not claimed until the employers in question make a return of business profits.

I am satisfied that the scheme is working satisfactorily both in terms of dealing with the difficulties faced by persons who are long-term unemployed from another angle and in terms of complementing the wide range of back-to-work incentives already available to this category of persons. As I already mentioned, the scheme was extended to certain persons with disabilities from January of this year. I assure the Deputy that the operation of the scheme will continue to be closely monitored.