Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)

It still is the case. After the first six months, the figure tends to tail off.

A person getting access to a third level course through the back to education scheme will be paid the equivalent of the jobseeker's allowance, a minimum of €10,000 a year, for the foreseeable future. That is an expensive commitment to make, so the best use of resources and money must be ensured. Until recently, allocating the allowance was focused on those finding it difficult to get employment. That same argument applies to allowing people to do second degrees, as I pointed out earlier to Deputy Durkan. It is important for the scheme's focus to be retained at second level education participation because the evidence shows people with degrees have a much better chance of getting jobs than those who do not complete second level education.

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