Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 April 2014
97. Deputy Joe Higgins asked the Minister for Social Protection if she will revisit the criteria for the back to education allowance for students training to be secondary teachers in view of the fact that the qualification is now at masters level. [16871/14]
View answerThe back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to support second chance education. BTEA covers full-time second level courses and third level courses to include a higher diploma qualification in any discipline and the professional diploma in education which are both at level 8 in the national framework of qualifications (NFQ). The BTEA does not currently provide income support for students pursuing other postgraduate qualifications such as a masters or a doctorate qualification.
