Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 15 June 2023
230. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the qualification criteria for a person on a jobseeker's payment to go on an educational course and retain their payment; if it is intended to review these criteria to encourage more people on social welfare payments to go on educational courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28996/23]
View answerThe Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. The focus of the scheme is to assist people improve their qualifications and as a result improve their access to sustainable employment. The Government has provided €49.08 million for the scheme in 2023.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the Back to Education Allowance scheme must satisfy a number of conditions including:
• being over 21 years of age, or if aged between 18 and 20 years have been out of formal education for 2 years;
• being in receipt of a qualifying payment for a specified time period, which is 3 months for second-level courses and 9 months for third-level courses;
• commencing the first year of a course;
• pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification, and
• progressing in the level of education,
There are some limited exceptions to these conditions.
The Part-Time Education Option enables jobseekers to retain their Jobseeker's payment while undertaking a part-time course of study, provided that they continue to satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment on an on-going basis. There are no specific eligibility criteria for availing of this option. The person may be of any age and may be unemployed for any length of time before commencing a part-time course of education.
The Education, Training and Development Option enables jobseekers to retain their Jobseeker's payment while undertaking full time courses of study of short duration. To qualify for this option a person must be in receipt of Jobseekers payment for at least 6 months immediately prior to commencing an approved course. The person must be aged over 21 years, or if aged between 18 and 20, then they must be out of formal education for two years.
There are no plans at this time to make any changes to the eligibility for these supports.
If the Deputy has a query in respect of a particular case, could I suggest that he bring it to the attention of the Department.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
