Finian McGrath
Question:260 Mr. F. McGrath asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the maximum support and assistance will be provided to a person (details supplied). [13972/03]
Written Answers. - Employment Support Services.
My Department administers a range of second chance education programmes under the umbrella of its employment support services. These programmes are designed to encourage unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to build up skills and qualifications which will help them to compete successfully in the modern labour market.
To qualify for the postgraduate option of the back to education allowance scheme, an applicant must be, inter alia, in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a specified period and must be attending a full-time third level course of study that is recognised by the Department of Education and Science for the higher education grant scheme or recognised by the Higher Education Training and Awards Council (HETAC). The Department of Education and Science does not recognise postgraduate courses of study in England for the higher education grant scheme and, consequently, such courses are not recognised for back to education allowance purposes.
According to the information supplied, the person concerned will not qualify for the allowance as he is not in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment and he intends to pursue a postgraduate course in England, which is not recognised for back to education allowance purposes.