Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 104: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the extent to which she expects her Department to be in a position to improve access to back to education allowance with the objective of maximising education and skills for the future; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29298/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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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 certain social welfare payments, mainly unemployment, lone parents and illness and disability payments, 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 number of participants engaged with BTEA has grown steadily in recent years. In the 2010/2011 academic year there were 25,032 participants which represented an increase of 20.3% on the previous academic year. The 2009/2010 academic year saw an increase of 79% on the previous year. The BTEA, in conjunction with other employment support schemes, will continue to be monitored on an ongoing basis to ensure that it continues to meet its objectives.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 105: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applications for contributory old age pension in respect of the spouses of taxpayers where payment was refused on the basis that a partnership did not exist; the number of applications approved in each of the past three years and to date in 2011; the number rejected and or pending; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29299/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Spouses who operate in a commercial partnership, and who satisfy certain criteria, may apply to the Department to be brought into the social insurance system, with retrospective effect. Where a commercial partnership is formally recognised, both spouses incur a liability to pay self-employed PRSI contributions and must discharge the liability in full before the contributions can be awarded. The numbers of such applications for recognition of a commercial partnership processed since June 2008 (when Information Leaflet 'SW124 – Working with your Spouse' was published) are set out in the table. Table: Retrospective Business Partnership Applications:

Where retrospective commercial partnership status is approved, these persons are eligible to apply for State pension (contributory) (SPC). It is not possible to provide statistics on the breakdown between pending/withdrawn applications and on the SPC application outcomes of individuals who have been granted commercial partnership status. Such pension applicants are not specifically identifiable on the Department's pension systems.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 106: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there is a particular reason for the large number of requests for repayment of adult dependent allowance in respect of persons receiving various forms of social welfare benefits; the way same transpired that such payments were made in the first instance in view of the fact that these payments are means tested and that the recipients were unaware of the qualification guidelines and that considerable hardship is now being caused by having to refund such payments made over several years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29300/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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An increase for qualified adult (IQA) is payable to recipients of certain benefits, allowances and pensions in respect of a qualified adult (their spouse, partner or civil partner) who is being wholly or mainly maintained by them, and where the qualified adult's personal means from any source(s) do not exceed a weekly means limit.

A condition of continuing eligibility for IQA is that the recipient or their qualified adult must immediately notify the Department of any changes in the qualified adult's circumstances that may affect the IQA entitlement. The obligation to notify such changes is provided for in social welfare legislation. The specific changes of circumstance which must be reported are listed in the IQA award letter and in a range of related information publications.

Under the Department's Control Strategy, scheme administrations are obliged to carry out annual and periodic reviews of IQA entitlement. Review projects for State pension (contributory) and Invalidity pension recipients are currently being undertaken. It is the Departments policy to pursue the full recovery of all overpayments identified in these control activities in accordance with its debt recovery guidelines, and to put in place a debt recovery plan by agreement with the person concerned at a rate of repayment which does not cause them undue financial hardship.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 107: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason mortgage interest relief in the case of a person was refused (details supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29301/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The community welfare service (CWS), and the community welfare officers providing it, formally transferred to the Department of Social Protection (DSP) from 1 October 2011. The service and the staff are now part of the DSP. The person concerned was refused mortgage interest supplement as it is considered that she has sufficient income to meet her mortgage interest costs.

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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Question 108: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if and when it is expected to award jobseeker's allowance in the case of a person (detail supplied) in County Kildare; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29302/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned submitted an application for jobseeker's allowance with effect from 30 September 2011. His application is currently being processed and the person concerned will be informed of the outcome in the coming days.