Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)

This is very similar to the earlier question from Deputy Enright with regard to the back to education allowance. The back to work enterprise allowance is a very worthwhile scheme which has significant potential. It makes no sense to insist that a person must be on the jobseeker's payment for two years before they can avail of that scheme. The priority in the current climate must be to ensure that the people losing their jobs now do not become the long-term unemployed of the future. If the Government is forcing people in that position to remain on the dole for two years before they can get any assistance in setting up a new business, it will make them the long-term unemployed.

This makes no sense. A welder from Kildare who was made unemployed contacted me recently. He saw an opening in the market to set up a small tyre garage. He is in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and it would be a big risk for him to give up all his payments in order to go into this enterprise but the State should facilitate him in trying to find new employment for himself and possibly others.

What is the justification for saying to that person that he must remain unemployed for two years before he can start his enterprise? It makes no sense at all so will the Minister please consider changing the rules?

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