Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 344: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he has made provision in Estimates 2007 for changes in the terms and conditions of the back to education allowance; and the terms and conditions which will be applied. [39702/06]

Richard Bruton (Dublin North Central, Fine Gael)
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Question 355: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the terms on which back to education and back to work allowance will be available in 2007. [39685/06]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 344 and 355 together.

My Department assists and encourages the long term unemployed, lone parents and other social welfare recipients to return to work, training or further education through a range of measures administered by my Department's social and family support service.

One significant measure is the back to work allowance scheme which incentivises and encourages people to return to work by allowing them to retain part of their social welfare payment for a period when they take up employment or self-employment. Research has shown that 75% of participants remain in employment or self-employment following participation.

To obtain back to work allowance, a person must have been in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment, such as job seeker's allowance, for various specified periods of between twelve months and five years, depending on the qualifying payment and on whether the person is going into employment or self-employment.

Another measure offered by my Department is the back to education allowance programme which provides support to long term social welfare recipients who need to obtain educational qualifications before re-entering the labour force. Again, information provided through research has shown that, in the case of a control group surveyed, 63% were in employment following participation in the scheme.

To obtain back-to education allowance, a person must have been in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for six, nine or twelve months, depending on the type of qualification being pursued and whether the person is participating in the national employment action plan.

The operation of my Department's employment support measures, in the context of modern labour market conditions, is continually monitored. Any changes necessary to ensure continued relevance and effectiveness are considered in the annual budgetary process.