Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

The back to work enterprise allowance scheme provides an incentive and support for people who are in receipt of certain social welfare payments, such as jobseekers and one parent families, to develop a business, while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their welfare payment over two years.  Participants maintain 100% of their payment in year one and 75% in year two. This financial support allows a person the opportunity to grow their business with the security of maintaining their welfare payment. This acknowledges the vital role entrepreneurs and new businesses play in economic development and job growth.  This is something of which I am very supportive and I am introducing jobseekers benefit for the self-employed next month.

Local development companies and local enterprise offices also play a key role in supporting local communities and entrepreneurs to develop their new business ideas where they also provide a range of complementary supports.

Through these services working together, the viability of a supported enterprise is enhanced by the scheme. Currently, 4,800 people receive the back-to-work enterprise supports. The numbers supported in County Kildare at the end of 2017 and 2018 were 337 and 212, respectively. There are currently 139 participants in Kildare. The numbers have reduced in recent years, which is in line with the overall trend on the scheme and reflects the improved economy and available job opportunities.

Individuals in receipt of the back-to-work enterprise allowance may also receive the enterprise support grant. This grant offers up to €2,500 over the first two years of a new business and assists with the early business start-up costs. Approximately 6,300 businesses were supported with this sizeable grant in 2018.

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