asked the Minister for Labour if a person who has been signing for the last couple of months but not receiving any social welfare assistance is entitled to the employment incentive scheme to start up a business.
Written Answers. - Employment Schemes.
200.
Under the employment incentive scheme premiums are payable to employers in respect of the recruitment of eligible persons. Employers are not required to demonstrate an unemployment status in order to qualify for payments under the scheme.
The enterprise allowance scheme, on the other hand, was devised to encourage unemployed persons to establish businesses. In order to qualify for participation in this scheme persons are required to fall into one of the following categories
—be in receipt of unemployment benefit-assistance for at least 13 weeks prior to entry
—be attending an approved training course prior to or following a period during which a person was in receipt of unemployment benefit-assistance provided that the two periods together make up at least 13 consecutive weeks
—be in receipt of disability benefit prior to or following a period during which a person was in receipt of unemployment benefit-assistance provided that the two periods make up at least 13 consecutive weeks
—be in receipt of the disabled rehabilitation allowance while attending a training course approved by the National Rehabilitation Board for 13 weeks immediately preceding entry to the scheme.
Officials at any office of the National Manpower Service are in a position to give advice on either scheme.