Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 226: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway did not have their rent allowance reinstated; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24490/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Health Service Executive has advised that rent supplement has been re-instated to the person concerned from 8th August 2011.

Paul Connaughton (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 227: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if greater clarity will be provided in terms of courses eligible for the back to education allowance as many students are applying for courses on the understanding that they will receive the allowance and then discover that the courses are not eligible; her views on widening the parameters of courses deemed eligible, to include courses such as software development, information systems and pharmaceutical science as the inclusion of such courses would lead to better job prospects for those involved and would also help in the creation of the knowledge economy, a prerequisite to regenerating the country's economy; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24491/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A person wishing to pursue back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme will have to satisfy a number of conditions such as being a certain age, in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, pursuing a full time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education held by the client with reference to the national framework of qualifications among others.

The back to education scheme covers a large range of full-time courses of education in approved colleges spanning basic foundation courses to third level courses across all disciplines, including, inter alia, those mentioned in the question. Courses may be pursued up to a higher diploma level in any discipline [level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ)] and to a Graduate Diploma in Education (Primary and Secondary Teaching; level 9 in NFQ) . BTEA will not usually be approved if a person holds a qualification equivalent or higher than the qualification for which the application has been received. Other postgraduate qualifications (level 9 or level 10) are not included.