Noel Ahern
Question:112 Mr. N. Ahern asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs if an application by a person (details supplied) in Dublin 11 for back to education was approved; and if situation can be explained. [32141/01]
Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.
To qualify for participation on the back to education allowance scheme an unemployed person must, inter alia, be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months or 156 days immediately prior to commencing an approved course of study.
The person concerned was in receipt of unemployment benefit for 129 days prior to participation in his third level course and as he did not satisfy this requirement, he was not therefore eligible for the allowance under the existing rules of the scheme.