Dáil Éireann debate -
Wednesday, 17 Nov 1999

Vol. 511 No. 1

Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.

Emmet Stagg

Question:

74 Mr. Stagg asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of people in receipt of the back to work and the areas based allowances; the plans, if any, he has to commission any further evaluations of the allowances; the plans, if any, he has for the future of these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23637/99]

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

The back to work allowance and the back to work enterprise allowance – formerly known as area allowance enterprise – schemes form an integral part of my Department's employment support services and have been very successful in encouraging the long-term unemployed to take up employment and self-employment opportunities. Since it was first introduced in 1993 the back to work scheme has assisted over 53,000 long-term unemployed people to return to the workforce.

At present, 31,300 are participating on the back to work scheme with a further 5,680 participating on the back to work enterprise allowance.

An evaluation of the schemes is being undertaken by consultants with the focus primarily on persons whose allowance has expired or terminated. It is expected that this will be completed early next year. The future direction of both strands of the scheme will be examined in the light of the findings of that report.