Vol. 510 No. 3
326 Mr. J. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the number of people availing of the back to education programme; the cost of these programmes; and if he has satisfied himself with the uptake. [22368/99]
The back to education allowance scheme merged the former third level allowance and second level allowance into a unified scheme from January 1998. The scheme is designed to encourage and facilitate unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities to improve their skills and qualifications with a view to returning to the workforce.
At present, there are 5,217 people participating in the back to education allowance scheme. The estimated expenditure for the 1999 calendar year is £22.4 million.
The level of uptake of the scheme has increased significantly since its inception. The scheme is kept under review and the evidence to date is that the scheme has been very effective in reaching the Department's customers who are most in need of second chance education.
