Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider reducing the length of time that persons have to be unemployed to take advantage of the back to education scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7570/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance is a second chance educational opportunities programme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active workforce.

The conditions for entitlement to the third level option of the back to education allowance were revised with effect from 1 September 2004. From that date, the qualifying period was increased from six months to 15 months for new applicants intending to commence third level courses of study.

One of the factors that influenced the change in the qualification conditions is the fact that in practice, some people go on the live register for short periods specifically to qualify for the back to education allowance. In the 2003-04 academic year the majority of participants in the third level option of the scheme were in receipt of an unemployment payment for 12 months or less when they accessed the scheme.

The BTEA scheme was always intended to benefit people who had difficulty finding employment because of a lack of education qualifications. In many cases, people who have not completed second level education are held back in their efforts to obtain employment because of this. The qualification period for people who wish to pursue second level education has remained at six months and the numbers taking second level education with the support of the BTEA are increasing.

As Deputies will be aware, I reduced the qualifying period for access to the third level option of the scheme to 12 months in the recent budget. I also increased the annual cost of education allowance, paid to people on BTEA, from €254 to €400. These changes will take effect from 1 September 2005.

I am satisfied that, overall, the current arrangements ensure that the scheme supports those people who are most distant from the labour market and whose need is greatest. As I have undertaken to the Dáil and the Committee on Social and Family Affairs I will continue to keep the qualifying period for this scheme under regular review.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Galway applied for unemployment benefit; when the claim will be processed; and the breakdown of this person's social contributions record. [7573/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person concerned applied for unemployment benefit on 31 January 2005. The claim is still under investigation in relation to a possible link, through a community employment scheme, with a previous unemployment benefit claim. A decision on this claim will be made as soon as possible and the person concerned will be notified of the outcome.

The person concerned is currently in receipt of survivor's contributory pension at the weekly rate of €154.30 from my Department. Under social welfare legislation, decisions in relation to claims must be made by deciding officers and appeals officers. These officers are statutorily appointed and I have no role in regard to making such decisions.

Contributions paid and credited under the Social Welfare Acts for the person concerned are as follows:

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason rent support was refused in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7679/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The Dublin Mid-Leinster region of the Health Service Executive has advised that it has no record of an application for rent supplement from the person concerned. If the person concerned wishes to apply she should contact the community welfare officer at her local health centre who will assess her situation and determine her entitlement.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 285: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the weekly rate of repayment of the dietary allowance overpayment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7680/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy is aware from my replies to previous parliamentary questions regarding this case, a significant overpayment of diet supplement arose because the person concerned did not notify the community welfare officer that he had commenced employment.

The Health Service Executive, which administers the supplementary welfare allowance scheme on my behalf, is obliged to seek to recover any overpayment of allowance or supplements. The specific diet supplement recoupment arrangements in this case are a matter for resolution between the executive and the person concerned.

The Dublin Mid-Leinster Area of the Health Service Executive has advised it agreed with the person concerned a rate of recoupment of €40 a month and a schedule of payment. The first instalment at the agreed rate was due on 17 February 2005, but no payment has been received from him to date.

The executive is not aware of any proposal to the person concerned of a lower weekly rate of recoupment than that agreed. In the opinion of the executive, the recoupment rate is reasonable given the significant size of the overpayment involved, and will not cause hardship to the person concerned in view of his overall financial situation.