Pauline Tully (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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504. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of applications that have been received for the Enterprise Support Grant from businesses in counties Cavan and Monaghan; the number of these that have been successful; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39118/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers financial 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 paid for a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business.  The Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) provides financial support to a person receiving Jobseeker's Benefit who wishes to commence in self-employment. This allowance is payable for the duration of the Jobseeker's Benefit entitlement. There are currently 73 recipients of BTWEA and STEA in County Cavan and 53 recipients in County Monaghan.

The Enterprise Support Grant (ESG) is a non-statutory payment to provide financial support to a new business owner in addition to that provided under BTWEA and STEA.  Financial support is available under the ESG towards the purchase of business supports such as mentoring, business equipment and public liability insurance.  The expenditure on the scheme to the end of June 2022 is some €610,000 with payments made to 657 applicants. Information on ESG payments is not maintained on a county basis. 

The separate Covid-19 Enterprise Support Grant was introduced to support businesses impacted by the pandemic and provided a grant of up to €1,000 to support self-employed recipients to restart their business after closing their Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Records show that 290 Covid 19 ESG payments were made to applicants from County Cavan (188 payments) and County Monaghan (102 payments) with 26 applications rejected from these counties.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.