Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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937. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) was refused the BTWEA after being told by a case worker that they were eligible; the reason this scheme is not open to start-up taxi and hackney drivers; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33779/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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A Case Officer conducted an assessment interview with the person concerned in November 2018 and confirmed that they met the basic eligibility criteria for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA). A business viability analysis is not conducted at this initial stage of the process. The person was referred to an Enterprise Officer in the Local Development Company for support to develop a business plan.

The person concerned did not submit a formal application for BTWEA until 2020. The application was not approved. This is because, given the nature of the taxi industry and concerns about displacement of existing operators, the BTWEA scheme does not generally extend support to those seeking to commence self-employment in that sector.

Under the circumstances, I have asked my officials to undertake an urgent review of this case and to revert to the person concerned as soon as possible