Stanton queries welfare switch
THE ending of the backto-work allowance was queried by Cork East Fine Gael Deputy David Stanton in the Dáil.
Speaking during Question Time, he asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs to confirm that that 20% of those who were unemployed were under the age of 25.
"Does she agree that the scrapping of this scheme has robbed such people of any hope of getting employment," he asked. "Can she tell me why the scheme has been abandoned at a time when the rate of unemployment in this country is the second highest in the European Union? Why has the Government decided to abandon young people and a scheme that seemed to be working well?
Minister Mary Hanafin replied that the back-towork allowance was designed to assist ... social welfare recipients to return to work. The allowance is paid on a reducing scale over a three year period.
"In order to respond effectively to the growing numbers on the live register, the changing profile of jobseekers generally and the current employment situation, it was decided in April 2009 to refocus the existing resources for back-to-work schemes towards helping people into self-employment," she said. "The intention is to support enterprises that will, in due course, create further employment opportunities. To this end, the back-towork allowance scheme for employees was closed to new applicants from 1 May 2009."
