Dáil Éireann debate -
Tuesday, 24 Jun 2003

Vol. 569 No. 3

Written Answers. - Social Welfare Schemes.

Seán Crowe

Question:

425 Mr. Crowe asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she has received a letter from a person (details supplied) in County Cork regarding the effects of the changes in the administration of the BTEA scheme; her views on whether the interpretation of the guidelines as laid out in the letter is inflexible and counter-productive; if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties her decision is causing students around the State in pursuing their academic goals as they would wish to; and her proposals to rectify the situation. [17451/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to help the unemployed and other groups to improve their qualifications and to enhance their employment prospects.

In framing proposals to change elements of the BTEA scheme my concern was to ensure that resources should be focused where the need is greatest. In line with this, payments under the scheme for the summer period have been discontinued for BTEA participants who were in receipt of an unemployment payment as many students traditionally find seasonal work at home or abroad during the summer months.

Participants in the scheme who fail to find employment during the summer may be entitled to an unemployment payment, subject to satisfying the usual qualifying conditions.

BTEA participants who have to, as an integral part of their course of study, undertake a period of work experience, placement or research during the summer months will continue to be paid the allowance for this period.

A letter has been received from the person concerned who is, on a voluntary basis, travelling abroad for the summer months. There is no indication however, that this travel is an integral part of his course of study. Consequently, the allowance is not payable for the period in question.

I am satisfied that the new arrangements will ensure that the back to education scheme continues to provide support to those people who are most distant from the labour market and I have no plans to alter these arrangements.