In 2013, the total expenditure by the Department on activation supports was almost €994m. Resources allocated and numbers supported via the back to education allowance (BTEA) have increased steadily in recent years and it is estimated that almost €183m will be spent on it in 2014. Some 25,000 participants are being supported in the 2013/14 academic year and it is expected that numbers availing of the scheme for the current academic year will be similar to last year. BTEA enables eligible persons to pursue approved full-time education courses that leads to a higher qualification than that already held and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to conditions. BTEA covers full-time second level courses and third-level courses to higher diploma level (level 8 in the national framework of qualifications), including the professional diploma in education (primary and secondary teaching). The guidelines governing the operation of the programme 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 to access BTEA and it should be noted that is not a requirement unique to the programme as other State supports for education purposes are grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one.
The Department published a policy review and high level issues paper of all Employment Support Schemes including the BTEA scheme in early 2013. The review was focused primarily on assessing the contribution certain programmes can make to the Department’s overall activation policy. The recommendations of this review - and the feedback from a stakeholders’ forum which was held to consider the review - are being implemented, including those relating to the progression requirements and the focusing of BTEA on the skill needs to support future economic opportunities. Overall, the priority for the Department is that the BTEA scheme will be focused, targeted and suitable for the needs of jobseekers and of the future skills needs of the economy. It is only in that context will changes to BTEA be considered.
