Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 59: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will consider easing the qualification guidelines for back to education allowance having particular regard to the need to encourage further education in the current economic climate; if he has examined the prospects of increasing opportunities for back to education with a view to responding to the situation now emerging in a more realistic way; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27881/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to remove the barriers to participation in second and third level education by enabling eligible people on social welfare to continue to receive a payment while pursuing an approved full-time education course that leads to a higher qualification than that already held.

The back to education scheme covers courses of education from second level to higher diploma level in any discipline or to a graduate diploma in education (Primary and Secondary Teaching).

The potential for changes in certain areas was identified by my predecessor to the Joint Committee on Social and Family Affairs. These concerned duration, access to post-graduate courses, appropriateness of courses and progression. The final shape and scope of such changes are currently being finalised for the 2010/2011 academic year.

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 60: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the action he is taking to ensure better value for money from the back to school clothing and footwear scheme. [28002/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The back to school clothing and footwear allowance (BSCFA) scheme provides a one-off payment to eligible families to assist with the extra costs when their children start school each autumn. The allowance is not intended to meet the full cost of school clothing and footwear but only to provide assistance towards these costs. A person may qualify for payment of an allowance if they are in receipt of a social welfare payment (including family income supplement), or Health Service Executive payment, are participating in an approved employment scheme or attending a recognised education and training course and have household income at or below certain set levels.

A means test is applied to the scheme to ensure that limited resources are directed to those in greatest need ensuring maximum value for money. Apart from a number of exceptions, all household income, including welfare payments are assessable as means under the BSCFA scheme in accordance with the normal assessment for supplementary welfare allowance. The exceptions to these rules are that any income received in the form of family income supplement (FIS), higher level education grants or the first €120 earnings from employment of a rehabilitative nature is disregarded for the purposes of the BSCFA scheme.

BSCFA rates are €200 for children aged 2-11 and €305 for children aged 12-22, an increase of €80 and €115 respectively on the 2006 rates. In addition, the allowance is increased by €215 to €520 per annum payable for eligible 18 year olds, as a compensatory measure where child benefit is no longer payable. In Budget 2009, there was an increase of €50 in the income thresholds for entitlement to back to school clothing and footwear allowance. This has brought the income limits for the allowance for couples with one child to €563.60 and €410.10 for those parenting alone. The limit is increased by €29.80 for each additional child. The Government has provided €82 million for the scheme this year - an increase of €59 million since 2006.

The improvements in BSCFA rates in recent years are very significant when viewed in the context of clothing and footwear price trends. According to the Consumer Price Index for May 2010, the overall cost of clothing and footwear has fallen 12.6% over the past twelve months and by 27.3% since December 2006. Since December 2001, clothing and footwear costs have decreased by 37.8%.

I consider the back to school clothing and footwear allowance scheme to be an important support for parents at a time of particular financial strain. I am satisfied that the improvements to the scheme in recent years, (and in particular the scheme improvements relative to the CPI trends), are providing a major boost to meeting the financial costs associated with returning to school. The adequacy of back to school clothing and footwear allowance payments will be kept under review.