Vol. 511 No. 1
49 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the plans, if any, he has to put in place child care supports for people participating in education courses which are supported by his Department through the back to education allowance and the third level allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23636/99]
The back to education allowance is essentially a social welfare replacement income which is paid at a standard weekly rate of payment equivalent to the maximum rate of the relevant social welfare payment. It is available to unemployed people, lone parents and people with a disability who have been in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months and who wish to pursue an approved second or third level course of education.
The allowance has a number of unique features attaching to it. It is payable for the full duration of the course of study, including holiday periods. It is not a means tested scheme and, consequently, participants may take up part-time work without affecting their payment. In addition, participants receive a cost of education allowance of £200 which is payable at the beginning of each academic year and they also retain entitlement to any secondary benefits they had while in receipt of their relevant social welfare payment. Child care support has not been a feature of the back to education allowance scheme to date. The question of such support would have cost implications and would have to be considered in the context of other supports available to people in similar situations. In this regard the Department of Education and Science provides child care supports for people participating in certain educational programmes.
