Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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116. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for Back to Work Allowance received in her Department in the past four years, to date; the numbers approved and rejected in the same period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17849/15]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Schemes such as the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) and the Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) assist those on certain social welfare payments who wish to become self-employed.

The BTWEA is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are dependent on certain social welfare payments to develop a business, while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years from time of approval (100% in year one and 75% in year two). The STEA provides immediate access to those who have lost their jobs and qualify for jobseeker's benefit and wish to set up a business. Payment under the scheme is at the same rate and for the same duration as their entitlement to jobseeker's benefit.

Information on the number of applications approved for payment under the two schemes for the years 2011 to end of March 2015 is set out in the table. The Department does not collect information on the number of applications received or rejected.

Number of Applicants in Payment 2011-2015