Vol. 517 No. 6
76 Mr. Deasy asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the proposals, if any, he has to include deserted wife's allowance as a qualifying payment for the back to work allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [10564/00]
Since its introduction in 1993 the back to work allowance scheme has proved to be a very worthwhile initiative in encouraging the long-term unemployed and lone-parents with children to take up employment and self-employment opportunities. The primary objective of the scheme is to encourage recipients of specified long-term welfare payments to seek employment. Since 1993 eligibility for the allowance has been extended on a number of occasions. It is now available to recipients of disability allowance, blind person's pension and to former recipients of carer's allowance. From September it will be further extended to recipients of invalidity pension and unemployability supplement.
It is not currently available to recipients of deserted wife's allowance. However a review of the scheme will shortly commence in my Department and the issue of further widening the eligibility categories will be considered in the context of that review.
