Claire Kerrane (Roscommon-Galway, Sinn Fein)
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859. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the length of time a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment in order to apply for the back to work enterprise allowance as a way to assist persons setting up a new business post-Covid-19; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [20228/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The back to work enterprise allowance (BTWEA) is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their payment over two years; 100% in year 1 and 75% in year 2. 

Since January 2017, jobseekers taking up self-employment are able to access the BTWEA after 9 months, down from 12 months previously.  The short term enterprise allowance is immediately available to someone in receipt of a jobseekers benefit payment and remains in payment for the remaining duration of their jobseekers benefit entitlement. The July Stimulus package provided additional provision to support jobseekers establish self-employment opportunities under this scheme and the details are currently being worked through by my officials.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy at this time.