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Back to Education Allowance

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 September 2020

Tuesday, 8 September 2020

Questions (779, 780)

Seán Sherlock

Question:

779. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of an additional 5,000 places on back to education allowance; the projected number of places that will be funded in 2020; the number funded in 2019; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22585/20]

View answer

Seán Sherlock

Question:

780. Deputy Sean Sherlock asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of extending the cost of education allowance to all recipients of the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22586/20]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 779 and 780 together.

The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA) is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue education and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study. The weekly rate of payment is linked to the persons' underlying payment, for example jobseekers allowance, and all budget increases in these rates are applied to BTEA recipients. The BTEA is a demand lead scheme and is not subject to a cap on the number of students supported.

During the past academic year there were approximately 6,300 students in receipt of the BTEA. Government has provided almost €57 million for BTEA in 2020. This represents a considerable investment in supporting participants to acquire the necessary education and skills to re-enter the labour market. An extra 5,000 places would cost in the region of an additional €47 million over the 2020/21 academic year.

As part of the July stimulus package, the Government announced an extension of the BTEA supports to recipients of pandemic unemployment payment to take up education. Someone in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment will not have to satisfy the 9 month qualification criteria for 3rd level support. It is anticipated that this will increase the volume of participants on the BTEA scheme.

There is also an annual Cost of Education Allowance of €500 available to participants of the Back to Education Allowance scheme who have one or more dependent children. Approximately 1,900 students availed of this grant for the 2019/20 academic year as a cost of almost €1m. Extending the grant to all recipients during the past academic year would have cost in the region of €3.2 million for the past academic year.

The 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.

I trust this clarifies the matter.

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