Thomas Byrne (Meath East, Fianna Fail)
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544. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the date upon which the four-year rule with respect to the back-to-work enterprise allowance was reduced to two years; and the instrument used to effect this change. [27597/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) is a non-statutory scheme designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment 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.

The duration payable for the BTWEA was reduced from 4 years to 2 years with effect from 1st May 2009 in respect of new claimants. This change was announced in the Supplementary Budget of 7^thApril 2009 and implemented by way of amendment to the administrative guidelines. Existing participants on the scheme at 1^stMay 2009 maintained their payment for a 4 year period.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.