Back-to-work move criticized

OPPOSITION parties yesterday hit out at the Government’s decision to limit the back-to-work allowance to those who have been unemployed for five years.

Until now the scheme was available to anyone who was unemployed for at least 15 months. It gave a financial cushion by allowing them to keep a declining percentage of their social welfare payments for the first three years of employment.

Both Labour and Fine Gael claimed yesterday that the move to limit the scheme only to those who are out of work for five years will lead to its total abolition.