The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force. The purpose of the scheme is to assist long-term social welfare recipients who would benefit from full-time education. The scheme is not intended to support full-time students with income needs. At present, to qualify for participation in the scheme an applicant pursuing a third level course of study must be, inter alia, in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 12 months or nine months if participating in the national employment action plan process.
The person concerned is a student. He does not meet the qualifying period requirement and does not, therefore, satisfy the eligibility criteria for participation in the scheme.