Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 29 September 2010
1364 Deputy Fergus O’Dowd asked the Minister for Social Protection if he will provide details of the number of applicants for the back to education allowance to date in 2010; the number of applications that were accepted; the number refused; the number that were rejected on the basis of a lack of progression; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33829/10]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe back to education allowance (BTEA) is designed to facilitate people of working age on welfare payments to return to education in order to gain qualifications which will help to enhance their employment prospects. Participants in the back to education allowance scheme transfer from another social welfare payment. Because these claims are not recorded as a separate scheme until the person transfers from their primary payment to the back to education scheme, statistics are not available on the number of applications received or refused entry to the scheme. Accordingly, the number of applications refused the back to education allowance on the basis of non-progression is also not available.
At end of August, 2010 a total of 3,985 participants were approved for the back to education allowance. Due to the nature of the scheme, the majority of the applications are made in late August and September in advance of the commencement of the new academic year. A total of 20,808 participated on the BTEA scheme for the academic year 2009/2010.
