I propose to take Questions Nos. 115 and 120 together.
Budget 2021 provides that recipients engaging in self-employment can earn up to €480 over a four week period and continue to maintain entitlement to the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The €480 limit is based on gross income, before tax and PRSI, minus expenses. This measure applies with immediate effect.
Where a self-employed individual exceeds the earnings threshold and is engaging in regular limited self-employment, access to the Part-Time Job Incentive has been extended to those who transition from the Pandemic Unemployment payment. Under this scheme, a self-employed person receiving the Pandemic Unemployment, for at least 16 weeks, can engage in self-employment for up to 24 hours per week and retain a personal weekly rate of payment of €128.60. A self-employed jobseeker with a qualified adult can be paid €209.70 per week.
Another option open to a self-employed person who is engaged in regular employment but trading on a limited basis is the means tested jobseeker's allowance scheme.
A self-employed person may also be eligible for support under the COVID-19 Enterprise Support Grant which provides support of up to €1,000 with business re-start costs where a person transitions from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment back into employment. Budget 2021 has provided that this support will be extended until 2021. Further information on this grant is available on www.gov.ie.
I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputies.