Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 November 2016
272. Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the schemes available to help a person who is in part-time employment and wishes to start their own business but retain their part-time job; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35765/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department operates two schemes providing financial and business assistance for people on certain social protection payments who wish to become self-employed - the Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) and the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA). The STEA provides immediate access to those who qualify for jobseekers benefit wishing to set up a business. Payment under the scheme is at the same rate and for the same duration as their entitlement to jobseekers benefit.
The BTWEA is designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are on social welfare payments to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years. Following the announcement in the 2017 Budget, BTWEA will now be available to jobseekers after a reduced duration of 9 months.
Under both schemes, those taking up self-employment must first have their self-employment project approved as viable and sustainable. The proposed business/project must be approved in advance by a Local Development Company (LDC) or a case officer of the Department.
The BTWEA is not available to persons already in employment or undertaking formal education as the scheme participants should be dedicating all of their time to the new enterprise. The case officer or LDC must be satisfied that the self-employment venture will be full-time and sustainable into the future.
It should also be noted that other business supports for people considering starting their own business, who are not eligible for the BTWEA or the STEA, are available from LDCs under the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme or from the Local Enterprise Offices.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
