Bernard Allen (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 282: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an application for the back to education allowance by a person (details supplied) in County Cork will be examined; if his Department will allow him the allowance. [36817/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance is a second chance education opportunities scheme 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 work force. The purpose of the scheme is to assist long-term social welfare recipients who would benefit from full-time education. The scheme is not intended to support full-time students with income needs. At present, to qualify for participation in the scheme an applicant pursuing a third level course of study must be, inter alia, in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 12 months or nine months if participating in the national employment action plan process.

The person concerned is a student. He does not meet the qualifying period requirement and does not, therefore, satisfy the eligibility criteria for participation in the scheme.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 283: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will not receive his Christmas bonus. [36852/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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To qualify for a full Christmas bonus, an unemployment assistance customer must have been in receipt of the payment for a minimum of 390 days prior to 23 November 2005. The person concerned has been in receipt of unemployment assistance since 15 July 2005. He had a previous claim for the period 29 September 2003 to 7 September 2004. For the purpose of deciding his entitlement to a Christmas bonus these claims were linked, giving a total of 386 paid days prior to 23 November 2005.

On further examination, it came to light that a short period in respect of which the person concerned did not collect his payment, but during which it was subsequently confirmed he was unemployed and entitled to payment, was omitted from the calculation of the number of payment days. Inclusion of this period in the calculation results in the person concerned being entitled to a full Christmas bonus payment this year. Arrangements are being made to issue the full bonus payment to him.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 284: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will re-examine the rent allowance being awarded in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny with a view to increasing same. [36881/05]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the Health Service Executive. Neither I nor my Department has any function in relation to decisions on individual claims.

The southern area of the Executive has advised that it has reviewed the rent supplement entitlements of the person concerned recently and has determined that the amount of supplement payable to her is to be reduced in December due to an increase in her means. She has been notified of this decision. It is open to her to appeal against the decision to the designated appeals officer of the Executive.