Seán Connick (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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Question 328: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs if her attention has been drawn to the fact that many persons who have previously attended third level education and who are in long-term receipt of social welfare payments are unable to receive State support to allow them to return to college; her proposals to assist persons in this position; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [35317/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I understand the Deputy is referring to the back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme. Since its introduction, the underlying objective of the scheme has been to equip people on social welfare payments with qualifications that will enable them to obtain employment in the labour market. It is a second chance educational opportunities scheme for people on certain social welfare payments who wish to participate in full time education and who would not otherwise be able to do so. The scheme was never intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system.

Under the back to education scheme an applicant can pursue a second or third level course up to and including a Higher Diploma in any discipline and a Graduate Diploma in Education which add significantly to a person's employability. A person who holds an equivalent or higher qualification will not be eligible for the scheme. The part-time education option of the back to education programme enables unemployed people to attend part-time courses of education or training and retain their jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit provided that they continue to satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking employment on an on-going basis. There are a number of financial assistance schemes available to help students to progress through further and higher education. The website www.studentfinance.ie provides information on course fees and details on eligibility requirements for free fees.

The focus of the back to education allowance scheme is on providing assistance to the highest possible number of those in greatest need in terms of meeting the requirements of a modern labour market. People in possession of a third level qualification have already achieved a high level of academic attainment which should impact positively on their employment prospects. The scheme will continue to be monitored in the light of the changed economic circumstance in order to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.