My friend is caught in a poverty trap

GIVEN the strong performance of the economy, it is difficult to fathom the cutbacks which the Government has made to certain social welfare provisions.

Regarding the curtailment of the back-to-education allowance, I would like to highlight the adverse impact of this cut on a friend of mine.

He applied for the allowance last year and was successful, following application for a degree course which was approved. After a family bereavement, he was forced to defer his college place until 2004-‘05. For the past year he has worked full-time on the minimum wage in order to make ends meet.