Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 September 2013
97. Deputy Thomas P. Broughan asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for back to education allowance refused to date in 2013 on the basis that the applicant held a level 7 degree or diploma and the application for BTEA related to a level 8 degree in a discipline other than the discipline in which the applicant held the level 7 qualification. [38927/13]
View answerThe back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme focused on jobseekers and designed to overcome the barriers to participation in second and third level education. The scheme enables an eligible jobseeker in receipt of a social welfare payment to continue to receive income support while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held. In line with the BTEA’s objectives, a person holding a level 7 degree can apply and be approved for a level 8 add-on year (honours bachelor degree) provided that it relates to the same discipline. The scheme cannot be used to support pursuit of similar level courses in a different discipline.
Statistics collated by the Department in respect of the BTEA do not record the number of applications made and therefore do not report on the number of applications refused or the reason pertaining to such decisions. Data is collated only in respect of participants in the scheme and the source of their prior social welfare payment.
