Frank Feighan (Fine Gael)

The area allowance scheme was both useful and practical to encourage the long-term unemployed to set up their own businesses and get back into full-time employment. While I have praised the scheme, why has the Government changed one of the criteria from one year's unemployment to five years' unemployment? The scheme got the long-term unemployed out of a cycle of unemployment and also helps the marginalised and disadvantaged. It is an insult to the unemployed to require that they be out of work for five years before they can avail of the scheme.

I am a member of the county enterprise board and the partnership board. The scheme has helped establish most of the small businesses in this country and tackled hard core unemployment. I am asking that the Minister come before the House to explain the reason the requirement in the scheme has been changed from one year to five years.