Peadar Tóibín (Meath West, Sinn Fein) | Oireachtas source

That is the new recommendation to the effect that we are seeking to keep the petition open. Agreed.

An chéad ceann eile is petition P00043/12 from Mr. Thomas Kevin Walshe concerning the back-to-education allowance. Members have been circulated with a summary note. The petitioner is entitled to €188 per week under the jobseeker's allowance but not entitled to the back-to-education allowance under the eligibility criteria for the scheme. We have sent a letter to the Minister and the Minister has indicated that the policy is being carried out to the letter of the law at present, that the back-to-education allowance confers an entitlement to income support for an indefinite period and that it was not designed to do that. Are there any comments?