Title: Starting a business when you’re young and out of work in Ireland (2026) > For young people in Ireland: how the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance works from the under-25 Jobseeker’s rate, Local Enterprise Office courses, Youthreach and Local Development Companies, checked on official sources. Source: https://pontia.xyz/ie/young-people/ Checked: 25 September 2026 For young people # Your idea. Your call. Real backing to start it. Out of school, out of work, or just working out what’s next? You can start something of your own, and there’s State support to help: money while you get going, courses, and people in your area to back you. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/?from=youth-hero)[Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator](https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges 8.1% > of 15 to 29 year olds in Ireland are between things right now: not working, studying or training (2025, EU average 11.0%). Plenty of them are working on an idea. [Eurostat, September 2026](https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/databrowser/view/edat_lfse_20/default/table) ## Schemes you can use Official schemes and who they’re for. The ones only for young people come first. - Keep an incomeJob search until approved ### Back to Work Enterprise Allowance After at least 9 months on a qualifying payment, you can start an approved new business and keep 100% of your payment in year one and 75% in year two. [What is this, and what do I have to do? →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/) - 100% of your payment in year 1, 75% in year 2 (including increases for dependants) - Needs 9 months on e.g. Jobseeker’s Allowance, One-Parent Family Payment or Disability Allowance - Approved in writing by Intreo and a Local Development Company before you trade - Not taxable; can be combined with the Enterprise Support Grant (up to €2,500) [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Grant ### Enterprise Support Grant If you are approved for BTWEA or STEA, you can apply for up to €2,500 towards start-up costs such as equipment, insurance and marketing. You pay a share of each cost. - Up to €2,500 on BTWEA; €1,000 on a 9-month STEA; €625 on a 6-month STEA - You pay at least 20% of each cost (10% for mentoring and short training) - Pays against quotes and invoices; not rent, vehicles or stock [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/enterprise-support-grant/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Advice & support ### Local Enterprise Office supports Training, mentoring and the Start Your Own Business programme. LEO grants mainly go to manufacturing and export businesses, so most local services will not qualify. - Start Your Own Business training and one-to-one mentoring at 31 local offices - Priming Grant: up to 50% of investment in the first 18 months, for eligible sectors only - Retail, personal services, professional services and construction are generally excluded from grants [Official site](https://www.localenterprise.ie/discover-business-supports/funding-and-grants/financial-supports/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Loan ### Microfinance Ireland Start-Up Loan A government-backed not-for-profit lender offering €5,000 to €50,000 to new small businesses that struggle to borrow from banks. - €5,000 to €50,000, up to 3 years, no fees - 6.5% interest, or 5.5% if you apply through a Local Enterprise Office - Up to 5 free mentoring sessions [Official site](https://microfinanceireland.ie/startup-loan/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 - Keep an incomeJob search until approved ### Short-Term Enterprise Allowance If you get Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Pay-Related Benefit, you can keep the same weekly payment for up to 9 months while you start an approved business. [What is this, and what do I have to do? →](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/stea/) - Same weekly rate as your jobseeker payment, for up to 9 months - No minimum time on the payment; an Intreo adviser must recommend it first - Taxable; seasonal or part-time self-employment does not qualify [Official site](https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-social-protection/services/short-term-enterprise-allowance-stea/)Checked 25 Sept 2026 Summaries are simplified. Always check the official source before you apply. ## Who to talk to first Free, and they help people in your position every day. - ### Intreo and your Local Development Company Your Intreo Employment Personal Adviser refers you to a Local Development Company, which helps you write the business plan that BTWEA needs. LDCs also run SICAP: one-to-one support into work or self-employment with no waiting period. [Official page](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments-and-work/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/) - ### Foróige NFTE A hands-on enterprise programme with mentoring and pitching for young people facing social or educational challenges, run in schools and youth services. Running in 2026. [Official page](https://www.foroige.ie/our-work/programmes/network-for-teaching-entrepreneurship/) - ### Youthreach Ages 15–20 A second-chance course for early school leavers, with a weekly allowance of up to €254 from age 18. Join any time of year. [Official page](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/further-education-and-training/youthreach/) ## Age rules that change your numbers - Aged 18 to 24 and living at home, Jobseeker’s Allowance is usually €163.70 a week (€254 with a child or living independently with housing support). BTWEA is based on your Jobseeker’s rate, so check yours on your statement. [Official page](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/unemployed-people/younger-jobseekers/) - BTWEA needs 9 months (234 days) on a jobseeker’s payment first. Use that time to write your plan with your Local Development Company. [Official page](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social-welfare/social-welfare-payments-and-work/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance/) - Under 30? The Work Placement Experience Programme needs only 4 months on a qualifying payment and pays €369 a week for 6 months, a way to build skills and savings first. [Official page](https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/employment/unemployment-and-redundancy/employment-support-schemes/work-placement-experience-programme/) - Ireland’s Best Young Entrepreneur (IBYE) and the Youth Employment Support Scheme have ended, whatever older pages say. [Official page](https://national-policies.eacea.ec.europa.eu/youthwiki/chapters/ireland/310-promotion-of-entrepreneurship-culture) [Try the numbers firstBack to Work Enterprise Allowance calculatorSee what you’d keep over 2 years, plus the Enterprise Support Grant.](https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/) ## Put it all into one plan Pick your schemes, add your figures and see your living and start-up budgets side by side. It takes about 2 minutes. [Sign up free](https://pontia.xyz/ie/start/?from=youth-end) Free forever · No card · No hidden charges Sources, checked 25 September 2026 Estimate and guidance only. Confirm with your benefit office, the official website or an adviser. Rules change, and your situation changes the outcome. Not a government service. Not financial, tax or legal advice. Cite this page "Starting a business when you’re young and out of work in Ireland (2026)", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/young-people/ (updated 25 September 2026) ## Related guides and tools - [Start your business and keep your payment](https://pontia.xyz/ie/) - [Genuinely seeking work, made simple](https://pontia.xyz/ie/genuinely-seeking-work/) - [Back to Work Enterprise Allowance calculator](https://pontia.xyz/ie/back-to-work-enterprise-allowance-calculator/) - [Ireland start-up support for jobseekers in figures, 2026](https://pontia.xyz/ie/datasets/ie-startup-support/) - [Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare vs Back to Work Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/ja-preparing-vs-btwea/) - [Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare vs Short-Term Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/compare/ja-preparing-vs-stea/) - [Jobseeker’s Allowance while you prepare](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/ja-preparing/) - [Back to Work Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/btwea/) - [Short-Term Enterprise Allowance](https://pontia.xyz/ie/guide/stea/) --- Pontia is free and independent. It is not a government service and not financial, tax, legal or benefits advice; always check the official source linked on the page. Some tool links are affiliate links: we may earn a fee at no cost to you, and free options come first. Contact: hello@pontia.xyz Cite as: "Starting a business when you’re young and out of work in Ireland (2026)", Pontia, https://pontia.xyz/ie/young-people/ (updated 25 September 2026) Whole site in one file: https://pontia.xyz/llms-full.txt