Vol. 557 No. 6
221 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the present qualification conditions, payment rates and supplements which are payable for a person taking up the back to work allowance; and if she has provided for changes in 2003. [23035/02]
The back-to-work allowance was introduced in September 1993 as part of my Department's programme of initiatives designed to assist the long-term unemployed to return to the active labour force at a time when the overall unemployment level was 15.7% and long-term unemployment stood at 8.9%. By 2001 overall unemployment had fallen to 3.7% and long-term unemployment to 1.2%.
The numbers availing of the back to work scheme have been falling steadily in recent years due to the continued buoyancy of the labour market and the low levels of long-term unemployment. At present there are 25,623 participants in the scheme compared to 39,343 in October 2000 when the scheme reached its peak.
My Department has examined the scheme following the recent Indecom report and in the light of current labour market conditions to ensure that is focused on the most vulnerable groups in our society. It has been decided, therefore, to restructure the scheme and in going forward the scheme will now only target those in most need in accessing the labour market, specifically the very long-term unemployed and other groups and provision has been made to allow for this. The range of measure necessary to do so will be outlined as part of the annual budgetary process.
222 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the present qualification conditions, payment rates and supplements which are payable for a person taking up back to education allowance; and if she has provided for changes in 2003. [23036/02]
The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate certain groups who are receiving social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. At present to qualify for participation an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months, 156 days, and be at least 21 years of age, 18 years of age for people with disabilities, immediately prior to commencing the first year of an approved course of study.
Successful applicants are paid a weekly allowance equivalent to maximum standard rate of the social welfare payment that qualified them for participation in the scheme. They also retain entitlement to secondary benefits and are paid an annual cost of education allowance of €254.00 at the beginning of each academic year.
223 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the items of gross pre-tax income which are disregarded in the means test for a rent or mortgage supplement where the applicant has a working spouse, or where the applicant has a part-time job or has entered into a community employment, job initiative, social economy or back to work scheme; and if she has provided for changes in 2003. [23037/02]
In assessing means for the purpose of rent supplement, under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, all household income, including spouse's income, either in cash or in kind, must be taken into account. Certain sources of income can be disregarded for this purpose. A list of these is provided in the following statement. In addition, the standard means test has been eased in recent years so that, if a person or their spouse takes up part time employment, he or she can retain the first €50 of their weekly earnings. The means test for scheme participants has been eased in recent years with income from back-to-work allowance and family income supplement being disregarded in assessing the household income level.
Supplementary welfare allowance is not normally payable to people in full time employment. However, as the Deputy is aware, arrangements are in place to enable people taking up employment through approved employment schemes such as back to work and community employment to retain a proportion of their rent supplement subject to a weekly gross household income limit of €317.43 and to certain other conditions. No changes in these arrangements have been provided for in 2003.
