Tom Fleming (Kerry South, Independent)
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To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine the situation whereby trades persons who formerly worked in the construction industry and who need to re-skill on FETAC courses and maximise opportunities to gain alternative employment are excluded form qualifying for the back to education allowance due to previous FÁS training which is classified as level 6 (details supplied). [43990/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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A person wishing to pursue the back to education allowance (BTEA) 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.

Progression in education is a condition which is not unique to BTEA, indeed State support for education purposes is grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one. This is necessary to ensure displacement does not occur, in that courses could be offered to students who are not progressing at the cost of students progressing from a lower education level. BTEA guidelines are, in the main, in line with the mechanisms in place for similar student supports administered by the Department of Education and Skills and require student progression from one qualification level to a higher one. Furthermore, the BTEA scheme is not intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system.

The National Qualifications Authority of Ireland has responsibility for the development and implementation of the National Framework of Qualifications.

My Department is currently reviewing a wide range of activation supports available to DSP customers, including BTEA, and it is my intention to canvass the views of stakeholders as part of the implementation process resulting from the review.