Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 28 May 2026
410. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications made under the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme in each year from 2020 to 2025, broken down by broad business category; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40887/26]
View answer411. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications approved under the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme in each year from 2020 to 2025 relating to beauticians, nail bars, barber shops, vape shops, smoke shops, mobile phone retail or repair shops, and similar personal-service or retail businesses; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40888/26]
View answer412. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if his Department categorises or records the types of businesses established under the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme by sector or business activity; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40889/26]
View answer413. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications under the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme relating to vape shops, smoke shops or nicotine-related retail businesses in each year from 2020 to 2025; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40890/26]
View answer414. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Social Protection if an assessment has been undertaken regarding trends in the types of businesses being established under the back-to-work enterprise allowance scheme over the past five years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [40891/26]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 410, 411, 412, 413 and 414 together.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) is a non-statutory scheme designed to provide a monetary incentive for people who are in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments to develop a business while allowing them to retain a reducing proportion of their qualifying social welfare payment over two years; 100% in year 1 and 75% in year 2. The objective is to support eligible DSP Customers to commence self-employment through setting up a new enterprise.
My Department has a comprehensive process to assess and approve a customer for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance. This includes requiring a customer to prepare a business plan, supported by the Department’s Employment Personal Advisor and an Enterprise Officer in the Local Development Company.
My Department’s IT systems for administration of the BTWEA do not capture the business type or category. Consequently, it is not possible to provide the Deputy with statistics regarding trends or numbers of specific business types. The following table shows the overall number of participants on the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme for years 2020 to 2025:
|
Year |
2020 |
2021 |
2022 |
2023 |
2024 |
2025 |
|
No. of Participants |
2,738 |
2,307 |
2,323 |
2,044 |
1,903 |
1,873 |
