Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 5 May 2021
415. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Social Protection if greater flexibility will be shown to persons on jobseeker’s allowance and other social welfare payments to help them return to education given the criteria for access to the back to education allowance for recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment regarding the qualifying social welfare payment; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22839/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level. My Department has a provision of €96.5m in supports under the BTEA for 2021.
A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the BTEA scheme has to satisfy a number of conditions, including being in receipt of a qualifying 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.
The qualifying period for the second-level option is three months while the qualifying period for third-level courses is nine months prior to the date of commencement of the course. This qualifying period has been waived for people coming from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment, where they are required to transfer to a Jobseeker's scheme.
The conditions under which the BTEA operate are designed to ensure that they address the objective of supporting longer term social welfare customers into employment.
Any person planning to undertake an education course should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess the options available to them.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
