Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Back for Business Programme assists returning emigrants who are looking to start their own business in Ireland, with a particular focus on the additional barriers and challenges faced by those who have been out of the country for some time.

I am pleased to inform the Deputy that we are expanding this programme. As the Deputy has noted, the scheme has generated overwhelmingly positive feedback and has to date assisted over 120 participants returning to Ireland from all over the world in creating businesses and employment opportunities across the country.

The next cycle of the programme will get underway at the end of February this year.

Up to 50 places will be available annually which is a 20% increase in capacity from previous rounds. We have also extended the cycle of the programme by an additional year.

In line with best practice and the experience of similar schemes operated by other Government Departments, access to the scheme is by way of a competitive process. This ensures that the successful applicants are those best positioned to benefit from participation in the scheme. This is a driver of the good outcomes which are being achieved.

This year we are introducing a community networking aspect for those who have completed the programme to support former participants and others to stay connected and to further enhance the assistance and advice we provide to our returning emigrant entrepreneurs.

The Back for Business initiative has itself drawn lessons from other domestic and job creation networks. For instance, its reliance on peer to peer learning through volunteer lead entrepreneurs was drawn from the experience of the ‘Going for Growth’ initiative supported for the last 14 years by Enterprise Ireland. That sister initiative, which is run in conjunction with KPMG, was a recipient of a European Enterprise Award for its work encouraging female entrepreneurs to increase their ambition and supporting them to achieve their growth aspirations and is an exemplar for our Back for Business Programme.

I would call on all Deputies to encourage those they know that have returned to Ireland in the last three years, and are starting a new business, to apply for a place on Back for Business. Those interested should access www.backforbusiness.com and register their interest and a link to an application form will be sent to them. Closing date for receipt of completed application forms is midnight on 15 February.