Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 23 Oct 2001

Vol. 542 No. 5

Written Answers. - Educational Allowances.

Richard Bruton

Question:

379 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if persons who are in categories eligible for part-time back to education options will be eligible for a book allowance and allowances towards other items of cost directly related to their participation in the course. [25161/01]

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

The main programme operated by my Department to facilitate people wishing to take up educational courses is the back to education allowance scheme. To qualify for participation in that scheme, an unemployed person must, inter alia, be pursuing a full-time day course of study at a recognised second or third level institution leading to a recognised qualification. In recognition of the additional costs which may be involved in undertaking such courses, my Department also pays an additional allowance towards such costs.

Unemployed people who wish to pursue part-time education courses are also facilitated in doing so under the part-time education option. Under this option people can retain their unemployment payment provided they continue to be available for work. There are no specific criteria related to the type of course being pursued or the qualifications involved and there is a very wide variety of courses available to people. People availing of this facility would not be eligible for any secondary allowance available under the back to education allowance scheme and because of the variety of possible arrangements involved it would not be practicable to pay such an allowance in their case.