Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 51: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he has considered easing the qualification requirements for back to education allowance having regard to the rising needs in the present economic situation and the necessity to ensure availability of an up skilled labour force in the future; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39972/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling eligible people on social welfare to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held.

With effect from 19 July 2010, changes have been made to the qualifying conditions of the back to education scheme to reflect the present economic situation. The period for which a person is required to be on a qualifying social welfare payment before accessing BTEA was reduced from 12 months to nine months. A two year qualifying period continues to apply to participants coming from illness benefit. People who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.

In addition, a person can avail of BTEA to resume studies in a second or subsequent year of a third level course whereas, prior to July, a person could only apply for BTEA if he was commencing year one of a course. This also applies to people who are granted an exemption from a period of the third level course. A person who completed an earlier year or years of his third level course on a part-time basis but is now getting a jobseeker's payment may apply for BTEA to continue the course on a full-time basis.

These enhancements build on other improvements made to the scheme in recent years in response to the changing economic climate. From September 2007, the qualifying period for illness benefit was reduced from three years to two years; from September 2008, the cost of education allowance, which is an additional annual payment made to cover the cost of books and materials, was increased from €400 to €500; and from September 2009, the six month waiting period for those pursuing second level courses was reduced to three months.

A jobseeker who wishes to participate in a part-time course may do so under the Department's part-time education option. Participants may continue to receive their existing social welfare entitlements provided they continue to satisfy all the existing terms and conditions of their jobseeker scheme including availability for work.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Given the qualification requirements now in place, and having regard to his references to 2007, 2008 and 2009, and the fact that this is 2010 and the economic situation is more serious than was the case one, two or three years ago, will the Minister look at the obstacles that exist to ensure the greatest possible number of young people who are anxious about going back to education, to provide for themselves now and in future, be dealt with as a matter of urgency?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Since 22 October, 21,500 participants were approved for the back to education scheme. This compares with 20,808 in 2009-10, which was a 79% increase on the previous year. The scheme has been broadened and increased dramatically. We must be careful in drawing up terms for this scheme not to create dead weight. It is clear we should focus much of the effort on second level qualifications because those who are further down the education chain find it more difficult to get a job. Those who experience the greatest difficulty getting employment are those with the least employment opportunities. The case has been made to extend the scheme to cover masters' degrees and second primary degrees but that would involve a major commitment to expenditure and we must compare that with the chances people who already have a degree have to get a job.

Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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I am not sure the Minister can deal with specific cases.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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If the Deputy passes me on the details of this case, I will have it investigated.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Will the Minister accept this scheme is in need of urgent reform? The Department's view is that everything is okay as long as it is treading water. The fact is there is a huge demand for places on this scheme. What on earth is the reason for not allowing people to participate in third level courses after being unemployed for three months? There seems to be a mindset in the Department that people will give up their jobs if it is made too easy for them to do so. The nature of unemployment has completely changed. What is the sense in making people wait longer than three months before allowing them to participate on a course through this scheme? Should we not encourage people to go back to education and enhance their educational qualifications so that they will be ready to avail of employment opportunities when the economic recovery eventually comes? What is the Minister's defence for not allowing this to happen?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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It comes down to using the limited resources available. A large number of people who lose a job regain other employment in the first six months. This figure then tails off-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That was the way it used to be.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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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.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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That is the very point we are making.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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I support Deputy Shortall's request for a review of this scheme. I had the case of a young girl on jobseeker's allowance who fell four weeks short of the time criteria for qualifying for the back to education scheme. She was accepted, however, into the first year of a nursing course but was denied the back to education allowance. She appealed the decision and continued to participate in the course. Now, the Department has even withdrawn her jobseeker's allowance. There is neither rhyme, reason or consistency in the Department's actions. Will the Minister review the scheme urgently?

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I cannot comment on the individual case in question. No matter where one draws the line when it comes to the cut-off criteria for allowances, there will be always someone on the wrong side of it. I accept it is difficult for the individuals affected but it is inherent in the whole social welfare system.

Regarding the wider question of whether it should be easier to get on to the scheme, it is important to bear in mind the overall cost and using the moneys for the best.

Ulick Burke (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The Minister's Department is making it difficult to get on the scheme.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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That is not the case.

Séamus Kirk (Louth, Ceann Comhairle)
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The Minister without interruption.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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No, that is a fundamental mistake made when assessing this scheme. For example, making a commitment to 100 people to do a five-year degree course would amount to €50,000 per person for the course's duration, €5 million in total. This must be compared to their chances-----

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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It should be compared to what is best for the economy.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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-----which are very high, of getting jobs in the intervening period. As there is a finite amount of moneys available, it is important such a long-term burden is not placed on the State, particularly when it could mean others would be deprived of other welfare payments.