Michael Ring
Question:331 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Sligo has been refused the back to work allowance to set up a hackney business. [9479/01]
Written Answers. - Back to Work Allowance.
Michael Ring
Question:334 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason the Government will not allow people to take up taxi work on the back to work allowance scheme due to possible displacement of work, while at the same time the Government is bringing the taxi industry to court in order to deregulate the industry. [9657/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 331 and 334 together.
Within areas covered by area-based partnerships, applications for back to work enterprise allowance are made to the partnership company for the area concerned.
In considering applications, partnership companies take account of relevant factors, including the possible displacement of existing businesses. This applies in the case of all proposed enterprises, whether or not they are subject to regulation. The provision of a subsidy for a business which would simply displace an existing viable business would not be justified. The self-employment project submitted by the person concerned was refused on the grounds that, in the view of the partnership company, the enterprise he proposed to pursue carried a risk of displacement of existing business. He was notified accordingly by the partnership company on 19 December 2000.
If the person concerned is dissatisfied with the decision in his case he should discuss the matter further with the partnership company.