John Brady
Question:296. Deputy John Brady asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of increasing the back to education allowance scheme for persons under 26 years of age to €188 per month for 2017 in tabular form. [11503/16]
View answerTuesday, 24 May 2016
Questions (296)
Written answers
The back to education allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level. The value of the BTEA weekly payment is equivalent to the weekly rate on the underlying qualifying payment, except in the case of jobseekers who are on an age-related jobseeker allowance payment. Jobseekers who are on such payments receive a weekly payment of €160 if approved for BTEA, subject to any deductions for means.
The Department estimates that 3,695 persons aged 26 and under are currently in receipt of an age-related BTEA payment. The cost of increasing the rate of the allowance from €160 to €188 per week (an increase of €28 per week for each affected participant) would be of the order of just under €5.4 million per year.
The figures as of May 2016 are set out as follows:
|
- |
Rates of payment @ May 2016 |
Estimated annual increase in cost if the rate of payment is increased to €188 per week for all BTEA under 26 years |
|
BTEA Weekly Rate |
€160 |
€188 |
|
No. PARTICIPANTS |
||
|
Aged 26 |
365 |
€ 531,440 |
|
Aged 25 & Under |
3,330 |
€4,848,480 |
|
Total |
3,695 |
€5,379,920 |