Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

The Minister must accept that for most participants in adult education and lifelong learning, a series of obstacles exist to prevent access to such initiatives. I refer to the fees and the costs involved. In the area of child care, there is no indication that either the Minister for Education and Science or the Minister for Social and Family Affairs will help to support single parents to return to education in respect of fees and childminding costs while they are involved outside their workplace. As for the back to education allowance, it was withdrawn two years ago and was reinstated on foot of public outrage. However, the criteria by which this scheme is administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs makes it almost impossible for many people to avail of it. Unless such people are out of work and proven to be in receipt of one, two or three special allowances, they cannot avail of the back to school allowance. Therefore, the very low-paid people who work every day cannot access this allowance if they wish to avail of back to education courses.

There should be clarity between the Departments of Education and Science and Social and Family Affairs in this regard. One or other Department should take up the issue and devise an allowance process that people can follow to gain access to third level education.

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