Written answers

Tuesday, 19 January 2010

Department of Social and Family Affairs

Departmental Schemes

9:00 pm

Photo of Michael D HigginsMichael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Affairs the reason back to work education allowance scheme is available to persons who are pursing higher diploma courses but not Masters courses; her plans to address the limitations with this scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1786/10]

Photo of Mary HanafinMary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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The objective of the back to education allowance scheme is to equip people on social welfare payments with qualifications that will enable them to obtain employment in the labour market. The scheme covers courses of education from second level to Higher Diploma level in any discipline (level 8 in National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)) and to a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary and Secondary Teaching, level 9 in NFQ) which add significantly to a person's employability. Other postgraduate qualifications (level 9 or level 10) are not included.

The possession of qualifications at level 9 or above in the NFQ is not regarded as a prerequisite to re-entering the workforce. A small number of cases have arisen where a college has granted an exemption from the requirement to hold a primary degree and has admitted a person to a Master's course on the basis of relevant life experience. In the context of the ongoing review of the operation of the scheme, it was decided to extend entitlement to BTEA in these instances on an exceptional basis.

The focus of the back to education allowance 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. There are no immediate plans to extend the scheme to cover Master's courses in general. 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.

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