Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 24 Feb 2000

Vol. 515 No. 2

Written Answers. - Higher Education Grants.

Enda Kenny

Ceist:

197 Mr. Kenny asked the Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs the reason restrictions were imposed on receipt of a back to education third level allowance for students who also receive a one parent family allowance where the person involved is under 21 years of age; his views on whether persons under 21 years of age have the same expenses as their fellow approved students; his views on whether a majority of students are between 17 and 18 years of age when they commence college and have often completed their studies prior to reaching 21 years of age; his further views on whether the age limit is discriminatory; if he will consider its abolition; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5660/00]

Minister for Social, Community and Family Affairs (Mr. D. Ahern)

The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities scheme 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.

To qualify for participation an applicant must, inter alia, be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study except for recipients of disability allowance and blind person's pension where an age limit of 18 years applies.

Further improvements to the scheme will be introduced from September 2000. From that date it will be extended to recipients of invalidity pension, unemployability supplement and persons previously in receipt of carer's allowance.

Lone parents who are under 21 years of age and not therefore entitled to the back to education allowance may, however, continue to receive their one-parent family payment while pursuing a course of education. They can also avail of employment and have earnings of up to £115.38 a week without their rate of allowance being affected. Furthermore where an entitlement to a higher education grant exists any income from this is not taken into account. I do not see any justification therefore for a reduction in the qualifying age for persons in this category bearing these facts and the nature of the scheme in mind.