Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 181: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the number of persons on back to work enterprise schemes with a breakdown by scheme type (details supplied). [13358/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

The Department's back to work enterprise schemes are designed to assist people on a social welfare payment return to work by setting up a self-employment business.

Prior to the 1st May 2009, the back to work enterprise allowance was a four year scheme under which eligible participants who set up a business retained 100% of their social welfare payment in year one, 75% in year two, 50% in year three and 25% in year four.

At the end of April 2009, there were 4,225 people in receipt of the allowance. From the 1st May 2009, the duration of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance was reduced from 4 years to 2 years at 100% of existing social welfare entitlement in the first year and 75% in the second year. The qualifying period was reduced from 24 months to 12 months, provided a person has an underlying entitlement to Jobseeker's Allowance. At the end of February 2010 there were 4,909 participants in the back to work enterprise allowance; 1,443 under the 2-year scheme and 3,466 carried over from the 4-year cycle.

A new Short Term Enterprise Allowance scheme was introduced from the 1st May 2009 for people who are entitled to Jobseeker's Benefit and have been awarded statutory redundancy or have paid full rate PRSI contributions as an employee for at least two years prior to their claim to Jobseeker's Benefit. This new scheme can be accessed immediately and is payable for the duration of their Jobseeker's Benefit entitlement while they are establishing their enterprise. The number of participants at the end of February 2010 was 1,314.

The nature and structure of the back to work enterprise schemes will continue to be monitored in the context of the objectives of the schemes and changes in the economic climate.