Jonathan O'Brien (Cork North Central, Sinn Fein)
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Question 225: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of persons that used the text message service to request back to education allowance forms; if all requests were dealt with and forms issued; the number of persons that did not receive forms despite requesting the form in this way; the facility in place for those persons who used the service but did not receive a form and who subsequently missed the deadline; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29454/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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As there is no facility to request by text message the application form for back to education allowance, I assume that the Deputy is referring to the back to school clothing and footwear allowance.

The Department received some 18,000 text requests for the application form for the back to school clothing and footwear allowance this year and a form was issued in each case.

A sympathetic approach is being adopted in relation to genuine late claims i.e. claims from customers that have an entitlement prior to 30th September 2011. The Department is not aware of any cases where customers did not receive the form in response to a form request and where this caused them to miss the deadline, but if there are any such cases the claims will be accepted and decided.

I can assure the Deputy that all valid claims will be paid.

Gerald Nash (Louth, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there are ever any extenuating circumstances whereby a back to work allowance can be extended; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29481/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department of Social Protection operates a range of employment support measures designed to encourage and support social welfare recipients of working age to reduce their dependency on welfare payments. These include the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA). This scheme is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are long term dependant on social welfare payments to develop a business.

The BTWEA allows eligible people to develop a business while retaining a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment. The period for which the allowance is payable is 2 years, the first year at 100% of existing social welfare entitlement and 75% in the second year. There are no circumstances where payment of the BTWEA is extended for more than two years. However, people who previously participated in the back to work enterprise allowance may apply a second time after a period of at least 5 years has elapsed.

It should also be noted that people who are self-employed for up to three days in a week may claim a jobseeker's payment in respect of the remainder of the week, subject to satisfying a means test and being available for full-time work.

The BTWEA in conjunction with other employment support schemes, will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.