Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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195. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of previously self-employed persons currently remaining unemployed and on the live register; the steps taken to facilitate their return to work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12049/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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.

This group includes a significant number of previously self-employed people. Data on previous employment status (self-employment or dependent employment) of those on the Live Register is not maintained so it is not possible to give the exact figure. However, the Advisory Group on Tax and Social Welfare, in examining issues involved in extending social insurance coverage for self-employed people, found that almost 9 out of every 10 self-employed people who claimed the means tested jobseeker’s allowance during the three-year period from 2009 to 2011 received payment.

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.