Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 392: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded the back to work allowance. [30539/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back to work allowance scheme which was introduced in September 1993 as part of my Department's programme of initiatives designed to assist long term unemployed people, lone parents and other social welfare recipients to return to the active labour force. The allowance provides a monetary incentive designed to make their return to work financially attractive and viable. It is designed to support people who would not otherwise be able to return to the workforce for financial reasons.

People applying for the allowance should do so in advance of taking up employment to allow their eligibility for the scheme to be determined. Claims made after the person has started work indicate that the person was in a position to take up employment without the need of the financial support the scheme provides.

The person concerned commenced employment on 7 June 2005. He applied for the allowance on 30 July 2005, and does not, therefore, satisfy the eligibility criteria for participation in the scheme.