Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)

I move amendment No. 30:

In page 20, between lines 24 and 25, to insert the following:

"23.—The Minister shall as soon as may be after the passing of this Act prepare and lay before both Houses of the Oireachtas a report on the implications of relaxing the qualifying criteria for Back to Education Allowance so that unemployed persons can claim it within three months of the start of their claim.

This relates to the ever-increasing numbers on the live register. The late Deputy Séamus Brennan, God rest him, as former Minister for Social and Family Affairs, accepted that the period of time at that stage, 15 months — which had come about as one of the savage cuts implemented by the present Tánaiste, Deputy Mary Coughlan — was too long and he brought it back to 12 months. At that time Deputy Willie Penrose was calling for it to be nine months but the then Minister, former Deputy Brennan, was not in a position to do that because of the budgetary constraints. However, times have changed dramatically, and I believe this is an opportunity for the Minister to look at this. Twelve months is too long a period to be on social welfare payments before a person may go back to education. The first time a person may contemplate going back to education is when or she is laid off from work, and has to make a decision. If he or she decides on going back to education, naturally, he or she wants to start as soon as possible.

However, the 12 month period is far too long. We believe it should only be three months. There is a decrease in the numbers entering third level and the universities still have places to fill. Given the world situation, there may be a decrease in the numbers of foreign students coming here, and given all the statements from the university presidents as regards funding costs etc., places are available in all faculties.

A good friend finally got into the system after the frustrations of having to wait for more than a year. He is now pursuing a master's degree course having successfully taken his primary degree. However, he had to suffer the frustration of waiting for a year before he could start, which is far too long. We now have an opportunity to act, bearing in mind the plight of so many who have lost their employment, and who must now make a decision as regards further education. It must be remembered that many of those now unemployed include people who dropped out of university and even second level, to avail of the opportunity to earn high wages when the construction industry was at its height. We now have the opposite situation, and many of those would be willing, capable and able to move onto third level, if given the opportunity. However, a 12-month wait is far too long, and now is an ideal time to reactivate educational opportunities for these people, and for that reason the Minister should accept this amendment.

See this speech in context