David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Question 823: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on making the back to education allowance available to all lone parents; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2466/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance is a second chance education 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 work force.

At present, to qualify for participation in the BTEA scheme an applicant must be at least 21 years of age — 18 years of age for people with disabilities. Lone parents and others may access the scheme at 18 years of age if they are out of formal education for two years or more. an applicant must also be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months, in the case of people wishing to complete a second level course, or 12 months in the case of people wishing to pursue third level qualifications. The 12 month requirement is reduced to nine in the case of people who wish to attend a third level course and who are participating in the national employment action plan.

The eligibility criteria for participation in the scheme are considered reasonable and necessary in order to ensure that resources are targeted at those who are most in need, bearing in mind that the objective of the scheme is to assist people who have been claiming a social welfare payment on a long-term basis.

As part of my social policy reform measures, I have identified increased opportunities for lone parents as a priority. In this context, obstacles to lone parents returning to employment, training or education are being closely examined and access to the back to education allowance will form part of this assessment.