Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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79. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of previously self-employed currently remaining unemployed and on the live register; the steps being taken to facilitate their return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25396/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The key objective of activation policy and labour market initiatives is to offer assistance to those in need of support in securing work and achieving financial self-sufficiency. This policy objective prioritises scarce resources to those in receipt of qualifying welfare payments. Accordingly the employment services and schemes provided by the Department are focused, in the first instance, on this cohort of unemployed people.

At the end of May 2015 there were 10,699 persons on the Live Register who had previously been self-employed.

People who were previously self-employed and are now in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance (JA) – and thus are on the Live Register – have access to the full range of activation measures and supports available to other jobseeker’s allowance recipients. This includes referral to group information sessions, 1-2-1 interviews and subsequent caseworker support. It also includes access to training, temporary employment, work-experience and recruitment subsidy programmes.