Written answers

Monday, 9 September 2024

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Business Supports

Photo of Richard BrutonRichard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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1027.To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the conditions under which support for the commencement of a new business can be made available to persons now on a social welfare payment.[35833/24]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department offers a range of employment supports to jobseekers including back to work schemes which support the commencement of self-employment.

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are interested in self-employment as a route to re-entering the labour market. The allowance is payable at 100% of the primary payment for year 1, reducing to 75% for year 2.

To qualify for BTWEA a person is required to have received an eligible income support payment continuously for 9 months. An applicant who is a part time or casual worker is required to be in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment for 12 months immediately prior to the BTWEA application and can have a maximum of 30 days of insurable employment during that period.

The proposed business must be a new enterprise and based in Ireland. As part of the application process, there is an assessment of suitability of the proposed business. The applicant is referred to the Enterprise Officer in the Local Development Company who works with the applicant to complete the business plan. The enterprise must be recommended by both the Enterprise officer and the Employment Personal Advisor before a final decision is made to award the allowance.

The Short Term Enterprise Allowance scheme provides support to customers of Jobseeker's Benefit and Jobseeker's Benefit Self-Employed payment to avail of self-employment opportunities by allowing them to retain their Jobseekers payment rate for the remaining duration of their claim. The proposed business must be a new enterprise and based in Ireland. As part of the application process, there is an assessment of suitability of the proposed business and a recommendation by the Employment Personal Advisor before the claim is awarded.

In addition, those interested in commencing self-employment may have entitlement to support under the Jobseeker's Allowance scheme. Means derived from their self-employment would be assessed and a weekly Jobseeker's Allowance rate may be payable.

I trust this clarifies the position.

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