Written answers

Wednesday, 16 February 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Employment Schemes

Photo of Violet-Anne WynneViolet-Anne Wynne (Clare, Sinn Fein)
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160. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of persons in receipt of the back to work enterprise allowance in County Clare in each of the years 2016 to 2021 in view of the difference in the figures in reply to Parliamentary Questions Nos. 934, 938, 939, 965, 969, 1007, 1011 and 1012 of 19 January 2022 and the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 970 of 19 January 2022 (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8819/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market.  The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long term unemployed and is payable for a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business. 

The Short Term Enterprise Allowance scheme (STEA) is designed to provide support for someone who loses their job and qualifies for Jobseeker’s Benefit and wants to start up a new business. The STEA is payable for the duration of the participants Jobseekers Benefit claim, which can be paid for up to 9 months.

The difference in the information provided in reply to Parliamentary Question Nos. 934, 938, 939, 965, 969, 1007, 1011 and 1012 of 19 January 2022 and the reply to Parliamentary Question No. 970 of 19 January 2022 arose from the inclusion of the STEA recipient numbers in the answer to the latter question.

The following table sets out the number of persons in receipt of both BTWEA and the STEA in County Clare as of 31 December in each of the years 2016 to 2021 inclusive.

Year BTWEA STEA Total number of participants participating in County Clare as of 31 December in each year
2016 424 8 432
2017 339 9 348
2018 207 6 213
2019 135 11 146
2020 88 3 91
2021 81 14 95

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.

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