Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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41. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in County Kerry who have applied for the back to work enterprise allowance; who were successful; who have launched their own business; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34762/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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There are two schemes to assist people on certain social protection payments who wish to become self-employed; namely the Short Term Enterprise Allowance and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. The Short Term Enterprise Allowance provides immediate access to support where people who have lost their jobs and qualify for Jobseeker’s’ Benefit 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. The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are on social welfare payments to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years; 100% in year 1 and 75% in year 2.

Under both schemes, those taking up self-employment must first have their self-employment project approved as viable and sustainable. In partnership areas this will be done by the partnership company Integrated Development Company (IDC). A qualifying business must be approved in advance by (IDC) or a Case Officer of the Department. It must be deemed genuine and viable, and not displace an existing business. In assessing viability, cognisance is taken of the demand for, and supply of, the particular product or service at local level.

At the end of September 2015 there were 469 people availing of the Short Term Enterprise Allowance, 21 of whom are living in Co. Kerry and there were 11,825 people availing of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance, 387 of whom are living in Co. Kerry. The Department does not collect information on the number of applications received or rejected.