John Perry (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 1153: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if rent allowance for a person (details supplied) will be re-instated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1085/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme is administered on behalf of my Department by the Health Service Executive. The scheme provides for the payment of a weekly or monthly supplement in respect of rent to eligible persons in the State whose means are insufficient to meet their accommodation needs.

Under existing legislation the Health Service Executive may refuse, suspend or terminate payment of a rent supplement in the case of a person who has been required to deliver up possession of a dwelling provided by a housing authority or an approved body where the reasons for that requirement include anti-social behaviour or the interests of good estate management.

The Executive has been contacted and has advised that payment of a rent supplement in this case was refused on the basis that the person concerned had been required to give up possession of a dwelling supplied by a voluntary body, in this instance St Vincent De Paul, on the grounds of anti-social behaviour.

John McGuinness (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 1154: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will approve an increase in rent allowance for a person (details supplied) in County Kilkenny in view of the difficult ongoing financial circumstances of the applicant. [1301/07]

Séamus Brennan (Dublin South, Fianna Fail)
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The supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which includes rent supplement, is administered on my behalf by the Community Welfare Division of the Health Service Executive.

The Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of her full entitlement to rent supplement for a person of her family composition and financial circumstances. If the person concerned is not satisfied with the decision of the Executive it is open to her to appeal the decision to the Executive's designated Appeals Officer.

The person concerned may also have an entitlement to family income supplement. In that regard she should contact her local community welfare officer who will advise her in relation to making application for this.

Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1155: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 7 is eligible for the back to education allowance operated by his Department; if this person is eligible for other funding which is offered by his Department with regard to their third level education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1305/07]

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 be, inter alia, in receipt of a relevant social payment for 12 months or 9 months if participating in the NEAP process immediately prior to commencing an approved third level course of study.

The person concerned has not made an application for participation in the BTEA scheme. However, from enquiries made in the matter it appears that she is not in receipt of a social welfare payment and does not, therefore, satisfy the eligibility criteria for participation in the scheme.

The Higher Education Grant Scheme and the Free Fees Initiative may be of interest in this case. These matters are appropriate to my colleague the Minister for Education and Science.