Louise O'Reilly
Ceist:198. Deputy Louise O'Reilly asked the Minister for Social Protection the first- and full-year cost to increase working age social welfare payments by €1. [31183/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraWednesday, 11 June 2025
Ceisteanna (198)
Freagraí scríofa
My Department provides a range of employment support schemes for jobseekers aged between 18 and 66 and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments to avail of training or employment opportunities and improve their access from social welfare to sustainable employment.
The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for customers in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue full-time courses of education at further or higher level. The focus of the scheme is to raise educational and skills levels to enable them to have better access to labour market needs.
The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme offers weekly financial support for customers who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The allowance is payable at 100% of the primary payment for year one, reducing to 75% for year two.
The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance scheme supports someone who loses their job and wants to start their own business. The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of a person’s Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit and permits a person to pursue their self-employment without being subject to the normal rules and obligations of the benefit scheme. The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance Scheme duration is determined by the underlying benefit and therefore ends when the statutory entitlement to the benefit payment ends, that is, at either six or nine months, depending on previous work history.
The rate for the Working Age schemes is based on the payment rate of the qualifying underlying payment, such as Jobseeker's Allowance. Any change in payment rates for recipients of the Working Age schemes would necessitate changing the rates of all the underlying qualifying payments.
At the end of December 2024, there were 3,697 participants on Back to Education Allowance with outturn for 2024 of €32.16 million. An increase of €1 per week for the Back to Education Allowance payment would increase the annualised cost by €192,244.
At the end of December 2024, there were 1,903 participants on the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance scheme with an outturn for 2024 of €30.22 million. An increase of €1 per week for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance payment would increase the annualised cost by €98,956.
At the end of December 2024, there were 252 participants on the scheme. Short Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) is funded under the Jobseeker’s Benefit budget. An increase of €1 per week for the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance payment would increase the annualised cost by €13,510.
I trust this clarifies the position.