The objective of the student grant scheme is to help as many students as possible to obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first time students and students that are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place. Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. It should be noted that out of a total number of some 92,000 applications for the academic year 2013/2014 assessed by SUSI by the 18th February 2014, some 1% of students were refused on the basis that they had previously completed a course at the same level.
My Department has done considerable work focused on getting unemployed people back to work. Springboard is a specific initiative that targets funding to enable unemployed people who have lost their jobs to up skill or reskill in areas where there are identified labour market skill shortages or employment. The joint Government-Industry ICT Action Plan, developed as a direct response to ICT skills shortages, supports jobseekers who already hold a level 8 qualification.
