Vol. 491 No. 4
90 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will extend the back to work allowance scheme to persons who have been in receipt of disability benefit long-term and who wish to return to the workforce; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12412/98]
I consider it important that any person in receipt of a social welfare payment who is in a position to return to the active workforce is facilitated in doing so. In the case of disability benefit and other schemes for incapacitated people there are arrangements in place under which, in certain circumstances, people can be facilitated in taking up employment of a therapeutic or rehabilitative nature with a view to returning to the workforce.
The objective of the back to work allowance scheme is to provide a financial incentive to long-term unemployed people to return to work. The scheme has a limited number of places and has been targeted primarily at people on unemployment payments and one-parent family payments. However, arrangements have been made for 1,000 places to be reserved for people with disabilities in receipt of disability allowance or blind pension. To date only 97 people have availed of this. In the light of experience with these arrangements I will be considering what additional measures may be required in this regard.
