Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 26 May 1998

Vol. 491 No. 3

Written Answers. - Job Assist Scheme.

Nora Owen

Ceist:

260 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Finance if he has satisfied himself that the information offices of the Revenue Commissioners are provided with information in relation to the full range of schemes available for the unemployed, so that persons making an inquiry will be informed of the schemes available and the Department from which they should seek assistance or information in view of the fact that the only information the Revenue Commissioners information officers give out to unemployed people relates to the job assist programme and people are not informed about other schemes, including the back to work allowance scheme. [12213/98]

Minister for Finance (Mr. McCreevy)

The job assist scheme is a new initiative introduced recently to assist the long-term unemployed back to employment. At my request the Revenue Commissioners undertook a nationwide advertising campaign on the scheme aimed at both the long-term unemployed and potential employers using national, regional and community radio stations. I understand from the Revenue Commissioners that the volume of inquiries at Revenue information offices suggests that the campaign has been very successful.

In view of the different audiences involved in this scheme two separate information leaflets are available, one providing information on the scheme for employers and the other for potential employees. The job assist scheme does not apply to jobs which are supported under existing labour market schemes such as the back to work allowance scheme administered by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs or Jobstart which is administered by FÁS. This information is highlighted in the leaflet prepared for prospective employees.

The Revenue Commissioners have direct responsibility for the job assist programme. Where customers have inquiries in relation to schemes and services for which the Revenue Commissioners do not have responsibility and in respect of which Revenue staff may not have the necessary expertise, they will generally be given advice as to where their inquiries can best be dealt with. Revenue's forms and leaflets office also stocks the information leaflet produced by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on the back to work allowance scheme and issues it to members of the public on request. One of Revenue's key objectives is to develop its customer service to make it as easy as possible for its customers to understand and deal with their tax affairs. An important strategy in achieving this objective has been the establishment of Revenue information offices. These offices provide a wide range of information on all areas of Revenue and they afford the public a ready access to Revenue's services. The type of services provided by Revenue range from information on all taxes, registering new customers, amending tax free allowances, explaining legislation and aspects of Revenue policy, assisting customers with returns and generally providing a skilled service which has been acknowledged by tax practitioners and commentators alike. Revenue staff are well trained and highly motivated and are equipped with all the necessary skills and knowledge and backup facilities to ensure they are conversant with all aspects of the information provided. This year it is expected that there will be 650,000 personal callers to Revenue offices throughout the country. In the two Dublin offices alone there will be an average of approximately 6,000 callers per week.

In addition to providing a quality service for its customers in relation to taxation matters, Revenue staff have a basic knowledge of other schemes relating to the unemployed and will give any assistance they can to customers with inquiries about such schemes. However, it is important to realise that they are not experts in all aspects of the schemes and services provided by other Government Departments and agencies.