Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if, in the context of the forthcoming budget, consideration is being given to a reduction in the signing on requirements to qualify for back to education allowance in order that persons who have lost their jobs as a result of the recession may take up available third level places without losing their social welfare entitlements; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10311/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to help those in receipt of a social welfare payment who have not worked for a period of time to improve their employability and job-readiness by acquiring educational qualifications. It is in recognition of the special difficulties which such persons can face when attempting to gain a foothold in the labour market. The scheme enables qualified people who have been getting a social welfare payment to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course.

To qualify for participation, an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment and be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study. However, lone parents and persons in receipt of unemployment payments can qualify before 21 years of age provided they are out of formal education for at least 2 years. In general, an applicant must be 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. In order to support activation of the unemployed, the qualifying period for the third level option is reduced to 9 months for persons who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan process.

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. Recipients of Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit who qualify for participation in the back to education scheme must provide written confirmation from the relevant institute of education that they are registered as full-time students. They are not required to sign-on the Live Register while attending an approved course of study.

The requirement to be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a minimum period has always been a feature of the scheme. A waiting period is considered essential to confer entitlement to income support for an indefinite period and is considered necessary in the context of targeting scarce resources at those who need it most. The scheme will continue to be monitored in the light of the changed economic circumstances to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.