Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 12 Jun 2001

Vol. 537 No. 5

Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

423 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will exempt from the signing criteria to qualify for the back to work allowance people who have been made redundant and wish to set up their own business. [16716/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The back to work allowance was introduced in 1993 with the aim of helping those who were long-term unemployed to return to the active labour force either as employees or in self-employment.

To qualify for participation a person must, inter alia, have been unemployed or in receipt of certain relevant payments for at least 12 months. Currently there are over 37,000 participants in the scheme, approximately half of whom are engaged in a wide range of self-employment options.

Among the recommendations in a recent evaluation report on the scheme was that, in the light of the current tight labour market situation the scheme should be refocussed on the longer-term unemployed. I agree with the recommendations in the report concerning an increased level of training, advice, support and mentoring for those participating in the scheme and my Department is actively pursuing these issues. In this context I will shortly introduce a code of practice aimed at employers, participants and the Department as recommended in the report.

The report will form the basis for future developments of the scheme and will help my Department ensure that it reflects the needs of the labour market and also the needs of the client groups at whom it is targeted. To this end, my Department has also embarked on a wide-ranging series of consultations with the social partners regarding the future of the scheme. There are no plans to change the criteria required to qualify for participation in the scheme to apply it to the category referred to by the Deputy.

Michael Ring

Ceist:

424 Mr. Ring asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if he will exempt people who have been made redundant from the 156 signing days ruling to qualify for the back to education allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16717/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate certain groups who have been in receipt of social welfare payments for a minimum period of time to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force.

To qualify for participation an application must, inter alia, be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months – 156 days – immediately prior to commencing an approved course of study.

The focus of the scheme has always been on those who have been out of employment for some time and who find it difficult otherwise to improve their skills. The scheme is not intended to meet the immediate needs of people who are made redundant. There are no plans at present to change the rules of the scheme in the manner proposed.