Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Independent)
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195. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if information technology systems have been developed in her Department to allow for the recording and analysis of data on the nature of businesses supported under the back to work enterprise allowance scheme and the short-term enterprise allowance scheme, and to record business success and failure; and the principal scheme outcomes identified by her Department using this data. [20082/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Department provides income support payments in the form of the back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) and the short term enterprise allowance (STEA) to those who satisfy specific qualifying criteria and are setting up a self-employed business. For BTWEA to be approved, the business venture must be developed with the support of – and be recommended by - one of the Local Development Companies. These companies operate under the aegis of the Department of Environment, Community and Local Government. While the Department maintains data in respect of the payment of BTWEA, it does not hold detailed data in respect of the businesses being supported.

However, the Deputy should note that the Department has recently commenced a review of the BTWEA, including the business planning processes involved and the need for combined information systems covering payments and business data. It is expected that this work will be completed in late 2015.