Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)

I support the amendments on the back to education allowance. I urge the Minister to be conscious that many young people who are now unemployed left the education scene just before or after their leaving certificate, lured into employment by the attractive incomes and salaries available in the building industry and other manufacturing industries with opportunities for overtime. Many of these people are now unemployed, increasing numbers of them having become unemployed during the past six months.

The Minister must, as a result of the many courses available currently and the many places unfilled within the education system at third level, recognise the opportunity available to her to shorten the period for which people must be out of work before they can avail of the back to education allowance. If we are serious and determined to ensure that as many people as possible can avail of the opportunity to improve and upskill, why create a hindrance to allowing them back into education? I support the amendments wholeheartedly. I urge the Minister to reconsider the criteria and to consider including distance learning as an option for the future.

See this speech in context