Dáil Éireann díospóireacht -
Tuesday, 17 Jun 2003

Vol. 568 No. 5

Written Answers. - Back to Education Allowance.

Mary Upton

Ceist:

461 Dr. Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the way back to education allowance payments have been removed from third level students for the summer months, in particular as students embark on their third level courses on the basis of receiving the back to education allowance for all the year. [16564/03]

Martin Ferris

Ceist:

466 Mr. Ferris asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if the back to education allowance will be fully restored to enable those currently in receipt of the payment continue to avail of the opportunity to pursue full-time education. [16941/03]

Minister for Social and Family Affairs (Mary Coughlan)

I propose to take Questions Nos. 461 and 466 together.

The back to education allowance scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to help the unemployed and other groups to improve their qualifications and to enhance their employment prospects.

A review of the basic purpose underlying my department's back to education provisions was carried out towards the end of 2002. In light of this, and in view of the expenditure constraints facing us this year, the scheme has been revised.

In framing proposals to change elements of the BTEA scheme my concern was to ensure that resources should be focused where the need is greatest. In line with this, payments under the scheme for the summer period have been discontinued for BTEA participants who were in receipt of an unemployment payment as many students traditionally find seasonal work at home or abroad during the summer months.

Participants in the scheme who fail to find employment during the summer may be entitled to an unemployment payment, subject to satisfying the usual qualifying conditions.

All other participants on the scheme, lone parents and people with disabilities remain unaffected by this decision and will retain payment during the summer period.

The only change made that potentially affects current BTEA recipients relates to certain post graduate courses which now no longer qualify for BTEA purposes.

All of the people concerned are already in possession of a third level qualification and have already achieved a good level of academic attainment, which should impact positively on their employment prospects. In a time of financial constraint, I want to ensure that supports are directed at those with most pressing needs.

Those wishing to take up a higher diploma (H.Dip) in all disciplines or graduate diploma in primary school teaching will not be affected by these changes. I am satisfied the new arrangements will ensure that the back to education scheme continues to provide support to those people who are most distant from the labour market.