Professor Tom Cooney:

I will make one comment. When the Department of Social Protection officials were before the committee, I am sure they highlighted the back to work enterprise allowance scheme as one of its flagship schemes that supports people with disabilities. What they probably did not mention is that in year one, people receive 75% of that benefit, in year two it is 50%, and in year three they fall off a cliff edge. The Deputy talked about the graduation that might happen, but the back to work enterprise allowance scheme does not do that. People who are on it say they suddenly fall off a cliff edge.