Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 565: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if an exceptional needs payment in respect of rent arrears will be awarded to a person (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11845/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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Under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme, which is administered on my behalf by the community welfare division of the HSE, an exceptional needs payment (ENP) may be made to help meet an essential, once-off cost which the applicant is unable to meet out of his/her own resources. There is no automatic entitlement to this payment. Each application is determined by the Executive based on the particular circumstances of the case. Eligible people would normally be in receipt of a social welfare or health service executive payment. Non payment of rent is not a case for making an exceptional needs payment.

The Health Service Executive has advised that the person concerned is in receipt of a rent supplement (in addition to a one parent family payment, and a reduced rate illness benefit payment) at the maximum rates payable appropriate to her circumstances.

The Executive has further stated that the person concerned, on the advice of the Community Welfare Officer (CWO), met with a representative of the local Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS), in January 2008 and also in early February 2008, in order to discuss her financial situation with a view to arranging a resolution to the issue. The CWO has been in contact with the person concerned following on from her meetings with the MABS office in order to examine her current personal circumstances and has advised that in his opinion the payment of an ENP is not warranted at this time.

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 566: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if there is assistance available from his Department towards costs (details supplied). [11862/08]

Martin Cullen (Waterford, Fianna Fail)
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My Department provides a wide range of second chance education opportunities to equip people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force.

Attendance at approved full-time courses of education provides opportunity for personal development and progression to employment for those dependent on income support. I consider that the existing arrangements applying to the back to education allowance (BTEA), which excludes distance learning courses, is best suited in meeting the objectives of the scheme namely, enhancing the employability skills of vulnerable groups who are distant from the labour market.

Participants on the BTEA scheme are paid at a standard weekly rate equivalent to the maximum personal rate of the relevant social welfare payment that qualifies them for participation in the scheme. In addition participants are paid an annual cost of education allowance, currently €400. For the 2008/09 academic year this allowance will be €500.

There are two strands to the scheme, a second level option and third level option. Under the second level option, a person may attend a second level course of study at any community, comprehensive, secondary, or vocational school. The course being pursued must be a full-time day course of study that leads to a certificate that is recognised by the Department of Education and Science or validated by the Further Education Training and Awards Council (FETAC).

The Third level option allows a person to attend an approved third level course of study at any recognised university or third level institution. The course must be a full-time day course of study which is an approved course recognised by the Department of Education and Science for the Higher Education Grant Scheme, the Vocational Education Committee's Scholarship Scheme, the Third Level Maintenance Grant Scheme for Trainees or validated by the Higher Education and Training Awards Council (HETAC).

I have no plans to extend the scheme to include distance learning courses within the scheme. I will of course continue to monitor the scheme but I believe that, overall, the current arrangements as provided by my Department's back to education allowance scheme are adequate and ensure that resources are targeted at those who are most in need.