Minister Joe McHugh has welcomed the findings of Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar’s report that 413 people in Donegal are benefiting from Fine Gael’s scheme to help people move from welfare to work.
Those enrolled in the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) are twice as likely to be in full employment after six months than those who did not take part, the review has found.
The study compared people who had stayed on the BTWEA scheme for its full two year duration with non-participants.
Minister Joe McHugh said the review, published by Minister for Social Protection Leo Varadkar, was very encouraging for Donegal.
“In Donegal, some 413 people are currently participating in the programme, accounting for six per cent of people on the live register here.
“Entrepreneurs are vital for local economies, our economic future and for job creation. I would encourage anyone who is currently unemployed in Donegal to use this valuable State support which helps starting a new business.
“This review has shown the allowance is highly effective in getting people in Donegal from welfare to work and I commend the 413 people who are setting out on a new road to entrepreneurship.”
The BTWEA helps people who are unemployed or claiming welfare to set up their own business and continue receiving State income supports for two years, while getting advice and support for running a new enterprise.
Minister McHugh continued: “The Department of Social Protection has also made it much easier for many more people to avail of the allowance.
“The qualification period has been reduced from 12 months to just nine months for more people on welfare, not just for Jobseekers, but also reduced those on other schemes like One-Parent Family Payment, Jobseekers Transitional Payment, Disability Allowance, and Farm Assist, and other welfare payments.”
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