Skip to main content
Normal View

Back to Education Allowance Eligibility

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 20 November 2012

Tuesday, 20 November 2012

Questions (345, 346, 347)

Catherine Murphy

Question:

345. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the disqualifying criteria for the back to education allowance would credit previous involvement in education, when such involvement was made under individual initiative and making use of personal resources; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50943/12]

View answer

Catherine Murphy

Question:

346. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the disqualifying criteria for the back to education allowance would measure progression at being at, and not beyond, qualifications previously achieved; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50944/12]

View answer

Catherine Murphy

Question:

347. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Social Protection if the disqualifying criteria for the back to education allowance would not take account of qualifications previously gained when such qualifications have not been widely recognised and have been seen to have little value in acquiring employment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [50945/12]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 345 to 347, inclusive, together.

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme. It is designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling those in receipt of certain social welfare payments to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held. The BTEA scheme covers a large range of full-time courses of education in approved colleges spanning basic foundation courses to third level courses across all disciplines.

BTEA guidelines are, in the main, in line with the mechanisms in place for student support type schemes administered by the Department of Education and Skills. Progression in education is a condition which is not unique to BTEA, indeed State support for education purposes is grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one. This is necessary to ensure displacement does not occur, in that courses could be offered to students who are not progressing at the cost of students progressing from a lower education level.

The Department is currently reviewing a wide range of activation supports available to the Department’s customers, including BTEA, and it is the intention to canvass the views of stakeholders as part of the implementation process resulting from the review.

Question No. 348 withdrawn.
Top
Share