Jack Wall
Ceist:580 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the changes he intends to make to the back to work scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25897/01]
Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.
The back to work allowance, introduced in 1993, is designed to encourage the long-term unemployed to return to the active work-force, either through employment or self-employment. The scheme has been highly successful since its introduction and to date almost 80,000 people have participated. There are over 33,800 current participants in the scheme, approximately half of whom are engaged in a wide range of self employment options.
Applications for participation in the scheme are completed jointly by the person and the prospective employer. The involvement of the employer is necessary in that there are conditions to be fulfilled relating to the nature of the employment involved. The scheme is, in effect, a partnership between the eligible employee, the approved employer and my Department. The co-operation of all parties, including employers, is essential to the success of the scheme and its growth has been due, in no small measure, to the high regard in which employers in general hold the scheme.
Employers may choose not to participate in the scheme but, in practice, this is an unusual occurrence. The voluntary nature of the scheme has contributed to its success to date and it would be impracticable and undesirable to introduce any element of compulsion into the administration of the scheme.