Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 161: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a back to education grant will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Limerick; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37178/06]

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 6 months for a second level course or 12 months for a third level course. This is reduced to 9 months where the applicant is participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and the third level course is approved by a FÁS Services Officer as part of that process. This condition must be satisfied immediately prior to commencing the first year of the course of education being pursued. The person concerned had already completed the first year of a course of education when she applied for participation in the BTEA scheme and is not, therefore, eligible for the allowance.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs when a person (details supplied) in County Mayo will be awarded and granted the respite care grant. [37261/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The person to whom the Deputy refers submitted an application for the Respite Care Grant on 16th August 2006. In the course of processing the claim it was decided that further investigation is required in relation to certain aspects of the application and, accordingly, the claim was forwarded to the Department's Social Welfare Inspector in Claremorris on the 22nd September 2006. A report is expected within the next week. Upon receipt of the report outlining the findings of the Social Welfare Inspector, a decision will be made on the claim and the person will be notified as soon as possible thereafter.