Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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110. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the extent to which his Department has studied the number of applicants for higher education courses who are refused funding or back to education allowance on the grounds that they have previously studied or completed a course at a similar level on the national framework of qualifications, NFQ, despite the fact that their existing qualification is deemed to be insufficient to meet the requirements of the workplace; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9166/14]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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This question relates to situations with which we have all dealt whereby persons who are in receipt of the relevant social welfare payments but who require to upgrade their education even further in order to access employment. The individuals to whom I refer are prevented from completing such an upgrade by virtue of the fact that they pursued similar courses at a similar level previously. Would it be possible for a review to be carried out in order to identify those whose skills have not been adequately upgraded?

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The objective of the student grant scheme is to help as many students as possible obtain one qualification at each level of study. Given the level of demand on the student grant budget from first-time students and those who are progressing with their studies to a higher level, there are no plans at present to change the arrangements in place. Eligibility for the back to education allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. It should be noted that out of a total of 92,000 applications for the 2013-14 academic year, assessed by Student Universal Support Ireland, SUSI, on 18 February last, some 1% of students were refused on the basis that they had previously completed courses at the same level.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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I thank the Minister for his reply. I fully accept what he said. At second and VTOS level, most of the cases which have come to attention involve individuals whose skills - developed on previous courses - have not been sufficient to allow them to meet the challenges of the workplace. In view of the fact that many of those involved are young people, would it be possible to carry out an assessment, within a reasonable timeframe, in order to ascertain the extent to which their skills might be improved by virtue of further education. Clearly the qualifications those to whom I refer have already attained are not quite satisfactory.

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The Deputy made some interesting points and we will ensure that they are considered in the context of Springboard and other specific labour market-friendly programmes. If skills shortages are identified, those to whom the Deputy refers can apply for entry onto such programmes and maximise the possibility that they will eventually be offered employment.