Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of applicants for back to education allowance, third level option, in 2011 and 2012; the number of successful applications and the number of appeals for both years; the number of successful appeals in both years where the applicant had been initially refused based on the cumulative total number of days of unemployment being deemed insufficient; if her attention has been drawn to the practice of FÁS/Solas encouraging applications for the allowance where applicants have not the required number of days of unemployment; if she will detail any communications her Department may have had with the Department of Education and Skills on this matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [44568/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The BTEA is operated via local and branch office network of the Department and data are not collated centrally on the overall number of application received, refused or where a review is sought. Data are compiled on the number of persons awarded the back to education allowance (BTEA) in respect of the academic years. For the 2011/12, some 25,700 persons were supported by the BTEA of which 62% pursued courses under the third level option. At end of September 2012 a total of 16,974 participants were approved BTEA in respect of the 2012/13 academic year - 67% of which are pursuing courses under the third level option. BTEA operates on an administrative basis. The guidelines and applications processes are published on my Department’s website - www.welfare.ie. Decisions made at local or branch office level are subject to review should an applicant be dissatisfied with the decision and/or explanation provided. The review is conducted by a more senior officer not involved in the original decision.

The Department is in regular contact with the Department of Education and Skills regarding the range of activation schemes available to person who are unemployed. Returning to education is considered when jobseekers are invited to explore the wide variety of options available to them. However, the Deputy will appreciate that an individual’s eligibility can only be determined following a formal application process during which all relevant circumstances are established. This is undertaken by the local or branch office.