Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 424: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason a person (details supplied) in Dublin 22 has been refused the back to education allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [32832/06]

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.

To qualify for participation in the BTEA scheme an applicant must, inter alia, be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period which can range between six months and three years, depending on the type of social welfare payment and the type of course being pursued. In certain instances, the period is reduced if the applicant is participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and the third level course is approved by FÁS as part of that process.

In the last budget, I announced that, with effect from September 2006, time spent on supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) can count towards the qualifying period for BTEA, in circumstances where the person establishes an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment prior to commencing an approved course of education.

The person concerned has been in receipt of various social welfare payments over the past four years. He is currently receiving supplementary welfare allowance (SWA) and does not meet the specific qualifying conditions associated with the BTEA scheme. In view of the particular circumstances of this case, the options available will be outlined to him with a view to his participation in the BTEA scheme at an early date.