Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 11 June 2014
62. Deputy Eric Byrne asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person who has a level 4 major award can repeat another level 4 under a new scheme, (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24835/14]
View answerA person wishing to partake in the back to education allowance (BTEA) will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, commencing the first year of a course, pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education held by the client with reference to the national framework of qualifications among others.
A number of enhancements to the BTEA were recently announced by the Department. These changes, which are now being rolled out, will support the policies outlined in the Government’s strategy Pathways to Work . The key enhancements include BTEA support for people who already hold level 5 or 6 qualifications under the National Framework of Qualification to undertake further courses of study at either of these levels to further their career development and their overall job prospects. Those who already hold a level 4 qualification are encouraged to pursue a course of study at level 5 to further their chances of accessing work opportunities. If the Deputy provides further details to the Department of the case he has in mind, it can be examined.
The Department is providing income support under the BTEA to nearly 25,000 jobseekers at various levels of education for the academic year 2013/14 and plans to maintain this level of support for the 2014/15 academic year.
