Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 27 Mar 2001

Vol. 533 No. 3

Written Answers. - Educational Opportunities Programme.

Noel Ahern

Question:

242 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs his views on the fact that there are no language courses covered by the back to education scheme; the plans he has to include such language classes and to involve colleges, for example, German Goethe Institute, in the scheme; if he will consider individual applications for such colleges and pay the appropriate fee; and the course which can be offered to a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who wants to do a language course as outlined. [8658/01]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate certain groups, including people who have been unemployed for a certain minimum period, to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active workforce.

Many people have pursued language qualifications with the help of the back to education scheme and have later used their language skills to gain a foothold in the labour market. However, to qualify for participation an unemployed person must, inter alia, be pursuing a course of study at a recognised second or third level institution. The course must be a full-time day course of study which is approved by the Department of Education and Science or have National Council for Educational Awards – NCEA – or National Council for Vocational Awards – NCVA – recognition. The institute concerned is not so recognised and, therefore, cannot be approved under the back to education allowance scheme.

However, the back to education programmes operated by my Department take cognisance of the fact that many unemployed people wish to pursue part-time courses of education as an alternative to the more structured full-time courses. Unemployed people who wish to pursue part-time education courses may continue to receive their unemployment payment for the duration of the course. The payment of college fees is not a feature of my Department's back to education programmes. The issue of education fees is a mat ter for my colleague, the Minister for Education and Science.