Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 May 2018
195. Deputy Catherine Murphy asked the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the financial supports in place for unemployed persons eligible for, and in receipt of, jobseeker's allowance to transition into educational opportunities in respect of upskilling for employment for higher level diplomas and other qualifications; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22814/18]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed to support certain recipients of social welfare payments to pursue courses of education with the objective of improving their chances of accessing work. To qualify, a customer must satisfy a number of conditions such as, inter alia, being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, and pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college.
With respect to jobseekers, the qualifying period for the second level option is three months while the qualifying period for third level courses is nine months prior to the date of commencement of the course. A person awarded statutory redundancy may access BTEA immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established. Periods on eligible social welfare payments that are not broken by more than twelve months can be combined in determining the required qualifying period for BTEA.
A Higher level diploma (H.Dip) in any discipline can be approved for jobseekers. However, applicants holding a qualification at tertiary education level (certificate, diploma, primary degree or post graduate qualification) are not approved under the BTEA to pursue a course at a similar or lower qualification level. Nonetheless, the BTEA may be approved if a person holds a level 8 Honours degree and wishes to pursue a Higher Diploma at Level 8.
BTEA is not intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for that Department.
I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
