Carol Nolan (Laois-Offaly, Independent)
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312. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a person who is in receipt of the back to work enterprise allowance scheme payment can have the payment extended beyond the initial two-year period; the number of persons who applied for the payment from 1 January 2019 to date in 2022; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10533/22]

Heather 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 up to a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business.

The Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) scheme is designed to provide support for someone who loses their job and qualifies for Jobseeker’s Benefit and starts up a new business. The STEA is payable for the duration of the participants Jobseekers Benefit claim.

All participants of the BTWEA can receive their full period of entitlement of 24 months and, therefore, should not lose out on the support. This includes anyone who contacted the Department to suspend their allowance while their business closed during Covid related restrictions. Where someone suspended their BTWEA, they can avail of the remainder of their 24 months on reopening their business. There are no plans to provide for an extension of this period.

Where a person’s entitlement to BTWEA exhausts and they are continuing to operate at reduced levels of business activity there may be alternative income supports available depending on the individual’s circumstances, including support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.

If the Deputy is referring to a specific individual, I would advise the person to contact their local Intreo Centre for advice.

The following is the number of persons in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Short Term Enterprise Allowance as of 31 December in each of the years 2019 to 2022 YTD inclusive.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.