Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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Question 131: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if she will review the decision whereby persons who are working in the public service and find themselves unemployed because they have not had their contract renewed due to rationalisation of the service must be claiming jobseeker's allowance for 12 months before qualifying for the back to education allowance unlike those who have received statutory redundancy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26828/09]

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. 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.

From September 2007, a person who is 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.

In all other circumstances, to qualify for the back to education allowance an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant Social Welfare payment for 3 months if pursuing a second level course or 12 months if pursuing a third level course. The 12 month waiting time is reduced to 9 months for persons who are participating in the National Employment Action Plan process or engaging with a Department facilitator. The scheme will continue to be monitored in the light of the changed economic circumstances to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.