Vol. 502 No. 6
258 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs when an application for the back to work allowance scheme for a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was received by his Department in view of the fact this individual was made full time in December 1998 and maintains that he made application within the requisite period of time. [8794/99]
259 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo was refused for consideration under the back to work allowance scheme. [8795/99]
260 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will address the problem where an individual qualifies for the back to work allowance scheme but is unaware of the scheme and its benefits and should be allowed to apply for inclusion in the scheme at any time. [8796/99]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 258, 259, and 260 together.
The objective of the back to work allowance scheme, is to give 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 is targeted at people who need an additional incentive to return to the workforce. It is, therefore, a requirement of the scheme that an application must be made prior to taking up employment.
