Nicky McFadden (Fine Gael)

I move amendment No. 10:

In page 20, before section 24, but in Part 2, to insert the following new section:

"24.—The Minister shall, within 3 months of the commencement of this Act, lay before each House of the Oireachtas, a report on the implications of easing the qualifying criteria for Back to Education Allowance so that unemployed persons, low income earners and persons dependent on social welfare can avail of the payment immediately.".

This amendment is important — it was raised by my colleagues in the Lower House on several occasions — as it concerns the back to education allowance for unemployed persons, low income earners and people dependent on social welfare. The impetus of the amendment is that those categories of people would be able to immediately avail of the back to education allowance and not have to wait for a year. It seems stupid, particularly in this economic downturn, that people must sign on for an entire year prior to availing of the back to school allowance.

Everybody agrees that education is the key to getting out of this recession. People will be demotivated because there are no jobs, not even the most low paid jobs, and I cannot understand why the Minister would have them wait for an entire year and be paid by the State for doing nothing while they could be upskilling, retraining or getting ready for a job.