Brendan Howlin (Wexford, Labour)
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Question 230: To ask the Minister for Social Protection in view of the job losses in construction and related professions, if he will consider amending the back to education allowance scheme to ensure that architecture graduates, for example, who wish to pursue further educational opportunities in order to qualify for employment in other areas will not be denied access to the benefits of the scheme by virtue of having previously studied at the same level; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43555/10]

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.

With effect from 19th July 2010, changes have been made to the qualifying conditions of the back to education scheme to reflect the present economic situation.

The period for which a person is required to be on a qualifying social welfare payment before accessing BTEA was reduced from 12 months to 9 months (a 2 year qualifying period continues to apply to participants coming from Illness Benefit). People who are awarded statutory redundancy may access the scheme immediately, provided an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment is established prior to commencing an approved course of study.

In addition, a person can avail of BTEA to resume studies in a second or subsequent year of a third level course whereas, prior to July, a person could only apply for BTEA if s/he was commencing year one of a course. This also applies to people who are granted an exemption from a period of their third level course. A person who completed earlier year(s) of his/her third level course on a part-time basis but is now getting a jobseeker's payment, may apply for BTEA to continue the course on a full-time 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 the labour market and to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. It is not considered that existing graduates should have an entitlement to BTEA to pursue a course at a similar qualification level.

State support for education purposes is grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one. There would also be a displacement effect in that courses could be offered to students who are not progressing at the cost of students progressing from a lower education level. Furthermore, the scheme was never intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system.

However, if a person wishes to pursue a part time education course they may be able to do so while still obtaining their jobseekers payment. They must apply at their local social welfare office and be able to show that the course does not reduce their availability for work. In the case of jobseekers benefit, participation on a course does not grant any extension to the normal period for which jobseekers benefit is paid.

The scheme will continue to be monitored in order to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.