Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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652. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if a decision will be expedited on a working family payment claim for a person (details supplied). [34212/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Working Family Payment (WFP) is a weekly tax-free payment for employees with children which supports people in low paid employment. The WFP is designed to prevent in-work poverty for low paid workers with child dependents, and to offer a financial incentive to take up employment.

It is a targeted measure that is directly linked to household income and therefore directly supports low-income working families. There are approximately 46,000 families with 103,000 children who are currently in receipt of WFP. The estimated spend on WFP in 2022 is €349 million.

An application for WFP was received from the person concerned on 30 March 2022. Further information was requested by the Department on 13 May 2022. The person concerned submitted this information, and it was received by the Department on 03 June 2022.

A Deciding Officer reviewed the application, and WFP was awarded on 20 June 2022, with effect from their renewal date of 02 June 2022 to 31 May 2023. The first weekly payment and all arrears owing have issued to their selected financial account on 23 June2022.

The person concerned was notified on 20 June 2022 of this decision and of the right of review and appeal.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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653. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will review the policy of refusing to allow persons setting up as self-employed under a franchise qualify for short-term enterprise allowance; and if such persons will instead be allowed the opportunity to demonstrate independently the viability of their initiative. [34372/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Short Term Enterprise Allowance scheme (STEA) is designed to provide immediate support for someone who loses their job and qualifies for Jobseeker’s Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker’s Benefit Self-Employed (JBSE) but wants to start a new business not currently in operation.

The support provides an incentive to avail of self-employment opportunities by allowing a person to retain their appropriate JB/JBSE rate. The scheme assists in the development of a new enterprise and alleviating the associated risks involved and provides an element of financial security along with business mentoring and supports. A venture which is not a new enterprise can base its income potential from past experiences, thus mitigating the financial risks associated with commencing a new enterprise.

Businesses setting up under an already market-established brand such as franchises are not considered eligible for receipt of the scheme and there are no plans to change this position.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.