Vol. 575 No. 5
200 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs further to Question No. 206 of 9 October, if her attention has been drawn to the fact that other students on identical courses with identical prior qualifications are in receipt of back to education allowance in the current year notwithstanding the circumstances outlined in her reply; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28766/03]
201 Mr. Durkan asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is entitled to the back to education allowance, to facilitate them in the pursuance of a higher education course, and that is similar to courses their colleagues pursue and enables them to qualify for the allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [28767/03]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 200 and 201 together.
The conditions for entitlement to the allowance were revised with effect from 1 January. From that date the scheme does not apply to certain full-time postgraduate courses. Participants on the scheme who had commenced postgraduate courses of study prior to this change continue to receive funding until the completion of their courses. Following this revision only those applicants wishing to take up a higher diploma in any discipline or a graduate diploma in primary school teaching have been approved for participation in the scheme.
