Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 September 2011
275 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if there is any discretion available to her to award the back to education allowance to Irish students accessing postgraduate courses in England, Scotland or Wales; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26132/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra276 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to any form of financial assistance similar to the back to education allowance available to Irish students studying in other EU member states and paid for by the Government of that member state; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26133/11]
Amharc ar fhreagra277 Deputy Pearse Doherty asked the Minister for Social Protection the reason for restricting the payment of the back to education allowance to Irish students studying in Irish universities and excluding any Irish students studying in England, Scotland and Wales. [26135/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 275 to 277, inclusive, together.
The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling eligible people on social welfare to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held.
A person wishing to pursue back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education held by the client with reference to the national framework of qualifications among others.
The BTEA scheme covers a large range of full-time courses of education in approved colleges spanning basic foundation courses to third level courses across all disciplines. The BTEA guidelines are in the main in line with the mechanisms in place for student support type schemes administered by the Department of Education and Skills (DES).
The student grant scheme administered by DES includes provision for grants to eligible students pursuing certain full-time undergraduate courses of at least two years duration in other EU member states provided they satisfy the terms and conditions of the grant scheme including those relating to residency, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Eligible full-time day undergraduate courses in other EU member states which are recognised by the DES for student grant purposes may be considered for the BTEA.
The student grant scheme does not extend to postgraduate study outside of the island of Ireland; this is also the position with regard to the BTEA and is outlined in the scheme guidelines. However it should be noted that Section 473A, Taxes Consolidation Act, 1997, as amended by Section 11 of the Finance Act 2011, provides for tax relief, at the standard rate of tax, for tuition fees paid in respect of approved courses at approved colleges of higher education including certain approved undergraduate and postgraduate courses in E.U. Member States.
My Department is not aware of a scheme similar to BTEA available to Irish students studying in other EU states and paid for by the Government of that member state. Member states offer a multiplicity of supports and interventions that are administered and funded by various bodies which are often particular to the varying governmental structures and imperatives of member states.
The BTEA, in conjunction with other employment support schemes, will be monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.
278 Deputy Patrick O’Donovan asked the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding a carer’s allowance application in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; when a decision will issue on same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26151/11]
Amharc ar fhreagraAn application for carer's allowance was received from the above named in respect of a second care recipient on 12 May 2011. On completion of the necessary investigations relating to all aspects of his claim a decision will be made as soon as possible. The person concerned will be notified directly of the outcome in due course.
