Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 May 2016
317. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Social Protection the cost of making the Student Universal Support Ireland maintenance grant payable with the back to education allowance for lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11614/16]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.
My Department remains committed to supporting lone parents who wish to pursue education and training courses. Given that there is no work conditionality attached to the OFP payment, recipients of the payment can participate in training and education programmes and remain on OFP. The SUSI grant is available to lone parents on OFP and the jobseeker’s transitional payment. The maintenance grant is disregarded for means on the OFP payment.
The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme remains an attractive scheme for social welfare recipients who wish to further their education. It is open to lone parents to apply for BTEA on return to education and receive a payment equivalent to their OFP. While the SUSI maintenance grant is not payable with BTEA, these students may be considered for the student contribution under the grant.
At the end of April 2016, there were 916 former OFP recipients on BTEA. If all of these qualified for an average SUSI maintenance grant of €4,500 per annum, the cost would be in the region of €4 million per annum.
