Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of persons who are in receipt of both a higher education maintenance grant and either a back to education allowance or a vocational training opportunity scheme allowance during the 2008-09 academic year; the number of persons in receipt of either back to education allowance or a VTOS allowance during the 2009-10 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [8355/10]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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It is understood from the Department of Social and Family Affairs that some 6,559 of their clients were in receipt of the BTEA Third Level Option in 2008/09 and 10,351 in 2009/10. However, not all BTEA recipients qualify for support under the student grant schemes.

In relation to VTOS allowances, only those students pursuing PLC courses in dispersed mode are eligible to apply for a maintenance grant. There were some 3,671 students in receipt of VTOS allowances for 2008/09, of which 1,800 were pursuing PLC courses in dispersed mode and 4,238 students in receipt of VTOS allowances for the 2009/10 academic year, of which 1,455 were pursuing PLC courses in dispersed mode.

The Deputy will appreciate that many categories of applicants apply for funding under the maintenance grant schemes. My Department does not collate information specifically on students in receipt of the BTEA scheme or VTOS allowance only.

Students currently in receipt of the BTEA and the maintenance grant will continue to be eligible for both payments for the duration of their current course provided they continue to meet the terms and conditions of the schemes. With effect from the academic year 2010/11, students entering or progressing to a new course will no longer be eligible to hold the BTEA together with a student maintenance grant. These students may continue to apply to be assessed to have the cost of the student service charge and any tuition fees paid on their behalf.

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and therefore, their prospects of returning to the workforce. Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs and is primarily a matter for my colleague, the Minister for Social and Family Affairs.