Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will consider extending the third level grant scheme to enable students who have used the back to education scheme where they qualify to proceed to post graduate work other than the H.Dip; if he will recognise the considerable achievement by such students and their potential contribution to society; and their particular experience and their valuable contribution to society. [28063/06]

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.

The BTEA is not payable to people pursuing post-graduate qualifications because people with a primary degree are already in possession of a third level qualification and their academic qualifications should impact positively on their employment prospects. However those wishing to take up a Higher Diploma (H.Dip) in any discipline or a Graduate Diploma in Primary School Teaching may claim BTEA as a post-graduate qualification is necessary for employment in their case.

The conditions of the scheme focus it towards people who most need additional training or qualifications in order to gain a foothold in the labour market. In the circumstances, I have no plans to extend the BTEA scheme to persons pursuing other types of postgraduate courses at this time.