Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
598. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is an early entry process for the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme for those people who have completed the required proposal process but fall short of the 234-day jobseeker threshold; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37746/25]
View answerThe Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme supports people in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their payment over two years. The Government has provided funding of over €30 million for the scheme in 2025.
To qualify for the scheme a person is required to have received an eligible income support payment for nine months. An applicant who is a part time or casual worker is required to be in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment for 12 months prior to their application and can have worked up to 30 days of insurable employment during that period.
There are no plans to amend the qualifying period for this scheme at this time.
I trust this clarifies the position.
