Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 34: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if he will revise the eligibility criteria for the back to education allowance to include low paid workers as called for by AONTAS. [8005/07]

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 allowance is essentially a social welfare replacement income which is paid at a standard weekly rate equivalent to the maximum rate of the relevant social welfare payment that qualifies the applicant for participation in the scheme. To qualify for participation in the back to education scheme an applicant must be, inter alia, in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least six months in the case of people wishing to complete a second level course, or 12 months in the case of people wishing to pursue third level qualifications. The 12-month requirement is reduced to nine in the case of people who wish to attend a third level course and who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan process. The back to education scheme was established to assist people who have been out of the workforce for some time and whose employment opportunities would be enhanced by participation in the scheme. The requirement to be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period has always been a feature of the scheme and this is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those most in need. People who are already in employment are not considered to be in the target group for the scheme. I am satisfied that, overall, the current arrangements ensure that the scheme continues to support those who are more distant from the labour market. I have no plans to abolish or modify the qualifying criteria for participation in the scheme to include people who are not in receipt of a social welfare payment.