Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 26 April 2016
77. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection if she will put forward for consideration, a project a person (details supplied) is proposing in respect of an application under the back to work allowance scheme, with particular reference to the personal funding invested in same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8393/16]
View answerThe person concerned applied for the support of the Department for a business venture under the back to work enterprise scheme. The person concerned has met on a number of occasions with a case officer to outline her proposed business plan in which she plans to buy into a franchise venture and operate it at a considerable distance from her home address. After careful consideration of the business proposal the case officer deemed that it was not a viable business proposal which would lead to full self-employment and also had concerns regarding the ability of the person concerned to repay loans which she needs to access in order to further her proposed business venture. The person concerned was advised in March 2016 that the Department would not be in a position to support her business venture through the back to work enterprise scheme. Her application has been reviewed and the decision remains unchanged. The person concerned is currently in receipt of jobseeker's allowance and she has been advised that she can declare self-employment, if she decides to proceed with her proposal, to her local office and a means assessment will be undertaken to establish any continuing entitlement to that payment.
