Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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173. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the back to work allowance or similar return to employment incentives; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1538/16]

Kevin Humphreys (Dublin South East, 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 (STEA) and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA). The (STEA) provides immediate access to those who qualify for jobseekers benefit wishing to set up a business. Payment under the scheme is at the same rate and for the same duration as their entitlement to jobseekers benefit. The BTWEA 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. Business proposals must be recommended by a local development company or local enterprise office before an application is considered for payment of the allowance.

At the end of December 2015, there were 396 people availing of the STEA and 11,881 people availing of the BTWEA.