Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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353. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many of the aviation workers are coming to the end of their eligibility for short-time work support and many of whom will not qualify for other forms of jobseeker's allowances or payments; and if the short-term support can be extended. [34905/21]

Aodhán Ó Ríordáin (Dublin Bay North, Labour)
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371. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many aviation workers are nearing the end of their entitlement to short-term working support and may not qualify for other supports; if she will consider extending eligibility for the scheme until the resumption of aviation travel under normal or near normal conditions; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34909/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 353 and 371 together.

The Department’s main social welfare schemes for people who are unemployed are the social insurance contribution- based Jobseeker's Benefit and means tested Jobseeker's Allowance. Both schemes provide support to individuals, including workers in the aviation sector, so that they can work up to 3 days a week and still retain access to a reduced jobseeker’s payment.

Jobseeker's Benefit is paid for up to 9 months (or 234 days) for people with 260 or more PRSI contributions paid. It is paid for up to 6 months (or 156 days) for people with fewer than 260 PRSI contributions paid.

It is a fundamental feature of a range of the Department's benefit payments, including Jobseeker's Benefit, that the payment is time-limited. Time limits apply across a range of PRSI related schemes such as maternity benefit and illness benefit.

Where a person exhausts their entitlement to Jobseeker's Benefit, they may be eligible for support under the means-tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. The Department contacts the Jobseeker's Benefit recipient in advance of the expiry date of their claim to advise them that their entitlement is due to expire and that they can make an application for Jobseeker's Allowance, which is also included in the correspondence.

Jobseeker's Allowance has unlimited duration as long as a person meets the qualifying scheme conditions including the means test.

The wide ranging nature of the assistance available to those impacted by Covid-19, including the Employment Wage Subsidy scheme for employers, constitutes a comprehensive suite of supports and I do not intend to extend the duration of Jobseeker's Benefit at this time.

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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354. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the enterprise support grant is available to sole traders who did not make a claim in 2020; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34248/21]

Brendan Griffin (Kerry, Fine Gael)
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355. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will make the 2021 enterprise support grant available to sole traders who returned to work in May 2021 when restrictions were lifted; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34262/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 354 and 355 together.

The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is available to eligible self-employed individuals who close their Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) and re-start their business. Almost 9,200 ESG applications have been approved since the introduction of this grant, with approximately €8.5m paid to small businesses.

The grant, of up to €1,000, is payable to self-employed individuals who employ fewer than 10 people, have an annual turnover of less than €1 million, are not liable for commercial rates and are not eligible for support from similar business reopening grants, such as the COVID19 Restrictions Support Scheme, from other Departments.

I have recently extended the grant to make it available to those who claimed the grant in 2020 but who found themselves back on the PUP in 2021. The opportunity of a second grant, worth up to €1,000, applies to all eligible self-employed recipients who close their PUP on or after 1 June 2021. The grant remains available to all first time eligible self-employed individuals upon the closure of their PUP claim.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.