A Donegal TD is encouraging anyone currently unemployed in the North West to avail of the Back To Work Enterprise Allowance Scheme.
Fine Gael TD Joe McHugh says a review of the scheme has shown the allowance to be highly effective in getting people from welfare to work.
The scheme which was established in 1999 is designed to encourage the long term unemployed to take up self employment opportunities allowing them to retain a reduced proportion of their social welfare benefit over two years.
413 people from Donegal are currently participating in the programme accounting for 6% of the live register in the county.
194 people or 10.6% of the live register in Sligo and 130 people representing 12.4% of the register in Leitrim are also involved.
The Minister of State for the Diaspora says there are still challenges this is proving a successful scheme in the region.
