Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 10 February 2010
239 Deputy Mary Upton asked the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the conditions for eligibility for the back to education allowance; the options for funding available to a person who has no means and will be unable to continue in education unless the back to education allowance and a maintenance allowance are available; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [7097/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance educational opportunities scheme for people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education and who would not otherwise be able to do so. Participation is open to recipients of a range of welfare payments, including Jobseekers, One Parent Family, Disability, Illness and Caring schemes. The allowance is paid at a standard weekly rate equivalent to the maximum rate of the social welfare payment that qualifies the applicant for the scheme. It is not means-tested and income from part-time work while on the back to education allowance does not affect the basic payment. In addition, an annual cost of education allowance of €500 is payable.
In order to qualify for participation, an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 3 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. This is extended to 2 years in the case of Illness Benefit. The qualifying period for access to third level courses is reduced to 9 months for those who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan process or engaging with the Department's facilitator programme. People who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study. In general, an applicant must be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study. However, lone parents and recipients of jobseekers payments who are out of formal education for at least 2 years can qualify at 18 years of age.
At present, participants in the BTEA are eligible to apply for a maintenance grant under the schemes administered by the Department of Education and Science. However, it was decided to discontinue this practice as it represented a duplication of income support payments. Students currently in receipt of both the BTEA and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they meet the terms and conditions of the scheme. From September 2010, all new applicants who are in receipt of the back to education allowance will be ineligible for student support maintenance grants. The cost of the student services charge and any fees payable to colleges will continue to be met under existing criteria, for eligible students, by the Exchequer on their behalf. Students should apply for these supports to their assessing authority in the usual way.
