Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 410: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs her views on adjusting the eligibility criteria for the back to education allowance in order that clients of residential programmes run by a number of therapeutic centres (details supplied) who are in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance while taking part in residential therapeutic programmes and who wish to continue study after the end of the residential courses would be eligible to receive the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35683/08]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Question 431: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the position in relation to clients of a rehabilitation facility (details supplied) who are on a disability payment when they are in the care of the facility but are not going to receive the back to education allowance because they were receiving a disability payment rather than being on jobseekers allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35477/08]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I intend to take Questions Nos. 410 and 431 together.

The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to help those who have not worked for some time to improve their employability and job-readiness by acquiring educational qualifications. It is a recognition of the special difficulties which such persons can face when attempting to gain a foothold in the labour market. The allowance 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. It essentially replaces their existing social welfare income and in addition an annual €500 cost of education allowance is payable.

In general, an applicant must be at least 21 years of age and in receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment for 6 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. People in receipt of disability related payments, may access the scheme at 18 years of age provided they have been out of formal education for at least 2 years. Time spent in receipt of supplementary welfare allowance can count towards the qualifying period for back to education allowance in circumstances where the person establishes an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment prior to commencing an approved course of study.

In addition, the qualifying period for access to the third level option has been reduced to 9 months for persons who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan (NEAP) process and where a FÁS Employment Services Officer recommends pursuance of a third level course of study as essential to the enhancement of the individual's employment prospects.

From September 2007 the qualifying period for illness benefit recipients was reduced from three to two years and people who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study. The requirement to be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period has always been a feature of the BTEA scheme and is considered necessary to ensure that limited resources are directed at those most in need.

The current scheme has been subject to review and modification over the years to ensure it continues to support those people who are most distant from the labour market and whose need is greatest. I will continue to monitor the scheme but I believe that, overall, the back to education allowance scheme continues to meet its objectives and ensures that limited resources are targeted at those who are most in need. If the Deputies wish to provide details of specific cases, I will ensure that they receive immediate attention from the relevant department officials.