Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)

The short answer is that it is a fundamental rule that educational progression is upwards. As the Deputy probably knows, many people availing of the BTEA are returning to second level education because they did not complete it. If somebody has already completed a high level of education such as a masters degree it is difficult to deprive someone in second level who is completing his or her education of funding. A number of Deputies have raised this issue. In the current financial situation it is difficult to find extra resources to allow people to step back in terms of qualification. I am certainly open to a more detailed discussion on this with the committee or to bringing in some people who are qualified to comment on this. The back to education allowance, which we are spending €200 million on, is money that is well worth spending. The best chance of getting a job as the recession starts to lift is to have appropriate qualifications.

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