Seán Crowe (Dublin South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs his views on extending the back to education allowance to those in low income employment in view of the fact that the economy here is becoming increasingly more knowledge based and that Ireland needs a larger amount of upskilling of the workforce here. [18912/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance or BTEA 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.

At present, to qualify for participation in the BTEA scheme an applicant must be, prior to commencing an approved course of study, at least 21 years of age (18 for people with disabilities). Lone parents and unemployed persons may access the scheme at 18 years if they are out of formal education for 2 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 twelve months in the case of people wishing to pursue third level qualifications.

The twelve 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 scheme was established to assist people who have been out of the workforce for some time and whose opportunities of obtaining employment would be enhanced by participation in the scheme. The requirement to be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period has always been a feature of the BTEA scheme and is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those most in need. People already in employment are not considered to be in the target group for the scheme.

I am satisfied that, overall, the current arrangements ensure that the scheme continues to support those people who are more distant from the labour market. I have no plans, at present to abolish or modify the existing qualifying criteria to include people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment.