Lucinda Creighton (Dublin South East, Fine Gael)
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Question 416: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants who have been accepted on the education, training and development option of the back to education scheme; the total cost to the State and if he will provide a breakdown of the types, locations and duration of courses, in the past year [35890/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The back to education programme provides a wide range of second chance education opportunities for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities. The Department's objective in this area is to facilitate people of working age on welfare payments to return to education in order to gain qualifications which will help to enhance their employment prospects. The back to education programmes were introduced to provide a comprehensive range of options from which an unemployed person can choose, or be directed to, the most appropriate for his/her needs. These options range from basic courses of education, training or development through to third level postgraduate courses of study.

The education, training and development (ET&D) courses are generally short term courses such as personal development courses, literacy classes or general training courses. It must be clear that the course will enhance the person's employment prospects, be approved by a departmental Facilitator, and be wholly or partially approved by a state agency or area partnership or a voluntary or community group. The person is deemed to be available for employment for the duration of the course. To qualify, a person must be over 21 years and getting a jobseeker's payment for at least six months or aged 18 to 20 years if out of formal education for at least two years.

Under the ET&D option, a person in receipt of a jobseeker's payment may continue to receive the jobseeker payment while attending certain courses provided specific conditions are satisfied. Where those conditions are satisfied, people who qualify for the ET&D option continue to be paid jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit at the appropriate rate and payment only continues for the duration of the jobseeker's claim.

ET&D claims are not recorded as a separate scheme, therefore such statistical information is not collated centrally and comprehensive data is not, moreover, available on the number of applications approved for this option of the scheme nor is there a breakdown of course profiles in the past year.

Michael D Higgins (Galway West, Labour)
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Question 417: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the position regarding an application for disability allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin [35906/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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The Social Welfare Appeals Office has advised me that an appeal by the person concerned was registered in that office on 08 May 2010. It is a statutory requirement of the appeals process that the relevant Departmental papers and comments by or on behalf of the Deciding Officer on the grounds of appeal be sought. These papers were received back in the Social Welfare Appeals Office on 12 August 2010 and the appeal will be referred in due course to an Appeals Officer who will decide whether the case can be decided on a summary basis or whether to list it for oral hearing.

The Social Welfare Appeals Office functions independently of the Minister for Social Protection and of the Department and is responsible for determining appeals against decisions on social welfare entitlements.

Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Fine Gael)
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Question 418: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will deal with a matter (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [35924/10]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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In the time frame available, I regret that my Department is not in a position to reply to this question. My Department will be in contact with the Deputy over the coming days and will reply in full to the question raised.