Vol. 502 No. 3
456 Mrs. Owen asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if an application will be approved for a back to work allowance from a person (details supplied) in County Dublin who has fulfilled all the conditions for the scheme and is having difficulty getting his application approved; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8007/99]
The objective of the back to work allowance scheme, is to provide an incentive to long-term unemployed persons who, in the absence of the scheme, would not be in a position to take up a job. The scheme has a limited number of places and it is a requirement of the scheme that an application must be made prior to taking up employment.
The person concerned commenced employment on 4 January 1999. He applied for the allowance on 22 February 1999. Under the rules of the scheme his application was refused as the claim was late and he was in a position to return to the workforce without the additional incentive which the scheme provides. However, the matter has now been reviewed in the light of information that the delay in submitting the application was caused by his employer.
In the light of this his application has been allowed and arrangements for payment of the allowance and arrears due will be made shortly.
