Mary Upton (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 632: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of people in a county (details supplied) currently back in education with the support of the back to education initiative, the back to education allowance and the vocational training opportunities scheme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [4732/09]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) commenced in October 2002. It provides flexible part-time options across Further Education and is aimed at adults with less than upper second level education, including unemployed adults. It aims to give adults who wish to return to education an opportunity to combine their return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Programmes are offered on a part-time basis in the mornings, afternoons, evenings or at weekends. Since September 2007, any adult with less than an upper second level education is entitled to free tuition. Originally only people with a social welfare entitlement or medical card were entitled to free tuition. In 2008, in the county referred to by the Deputy, there were just over 800 participants in the BTEI.

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a full-time second chance education and training initiative for unemployed people delivered and managed locally by the VECs. Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvantaged. Courses of up to two years duration and between levels 3 and 6 on the National Qualifications Framework are offered. Tuition, stationery and books are provided free of charge. A childcare grant and meal and travel allowances are also available to students and they can access the adult guidance service. In 2008, in the county referred to by the Deputy, there were 70 VTOS places available and these places were fully subscribed.

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs is a second chance educational opportunities scheme payable to people on welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education. To qualify for the BTEA an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for a minimum period. 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.

The statistics on participation on the BTEA scheme are collated at the end of April in order to get an overview for the full academic year. The figure for 2007/2008 academic year for the county referred to by the Deputy was just under 80. The figures for the 2008/2009 academic year are not yet available but it is expected that they will show a significant increase.