Vol. 444 No. 6
91 Miss Quill asked the Minister for Social Welfare in relation to the implementation of the back to work allowance scheme, if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by applicants for this scheme in their dealings with bureaucracy; and, if so, the steps, if any, that can be taken to streamline and simplify procedures in an effort to facilitate applicants.
The back to work allowance is a pilot scheme which I introduced to help the creation of new job opportunities and to encourage unemployed people on the live register and lone parents to return to employment or self-employment. Even though the scheme has only been in operation since the end of last year, 3,750 new jobs have already been identified and over 2,500 people are receiving an allowance at an average weekly rate of £78. Over 70 per cent of the people receiving the allowance are engaged in self-employment in a wide and diverse range of projects.
The operation of the scheme has been kept as simple as possible. Jobs facilitators have been appointed, whose role includes the provision of assistance for unemployed people and lone parents when applying for the back to work allowance.
If the Deputy has any particular cases in mind, she should notify my Department of the details and I would be happy to have them examined.
