Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick East, Labour)
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Question 290: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will restore the back to education allowance to postgraduate students in order to remove the financial barrier which prevents BTEA students from progressing in the education system; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4227/07]

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 work force. The postgraduate option of the back to education allowance is payable to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a Higher Diploma (H-Dip) qualification or to persons in pursuit of a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary Teaching). The objective of the scheme is to assist those most marginalised and most distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. It is recognised that primary degree qualifications impact positively on the employment prospects of those who hold such credentials. The scheme targets assistance for the maximum numbers in greatest need and at present there are no plans to extend the BTEA scheme to persons pursuing other types of postgraduate courses at this time.