Arthur Morgan (Louth, Sinn Fein)
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Question 311: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the criteria for the back to education allowance second level option; the meaning of particular courses not to be a progression in educational qualifications; the courses which fall under this category; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [45727/09]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance educational opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, thereby, their prospects of returning to the active work force. It 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. Also, participants may continue to receive any secondary benefits to which they have been entitled.

The second level option of the back to education allowance covers full-time second level courses of study at a recognised second level institute of education. Non-progression does not refer to specific course categories. To qualify for the back to education, an applicant must be progressing in education by reference to the national framework of qualifications. An applicant who wishes to pursue a course leading to a qualification at an equivalent or lower level than the qualification already held is not eligible for the back to education allowance.

However, this condition can be waived in certain circumstances. Factors taken into account would include the length of time since obtaining the first qualification, efforts to get employment with the qualification already held and periods of unemployment since obtaining first qualification. The main consideration in such cases is that the proposed further qualification will substantially enhance the person's employment prospects.

In order to qualify for participation in the second level option, an applicant must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 3 months immediately prior to commencing the course. In the case of illness benefit, the qualifying period is two years. Periods spent on other relevant social welfare payments can count towards the two year qualifying period provided that at least 50% of the period was spent on illness benefit. People who are awarded statutory redundancy can access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.

An applicant must be at least 21 years of age prior to commencing an approved course of study. However, recipients of illness and disability related payments can qualify at 18 years of age, as can lone parents and recipients of jobseekers' payments who have been out of formal education for at least 2 years.

The back to education allowance has an important role to play in enhancing the employability skills of jobseekers. The conditionality of the scheme will continue to be monitored in the context of the objectives of the scheme and changes in the economic climate.