Vol. 439 No. 1
37 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Enterprise and Employment if he will amend the terms of the enterprise allowance scheme to permit the granting of extensions in cases such as that of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who has a wife and four children; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
The enterprise scheme operated by FÁS provides assistance to unemployed persons to set up their own enterprises. Payment of an allowance of £40 or £65 per week, depending on the status of the participant, is made for 40 weeks. There is no provision for extension of the payment period beyond 40 weeks. I have no plans to alter the basis on which the scheme operates. However, the scheme as with all FÁS schemes will be kept under ongoing review and will be adapted if and when circumstances allow.
