Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)
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345. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the back to education grants that are available to stay at home mothers who do not have enough credits and are not in receipt of social welfare payments, who wish to avail of the opportunity to do a full or part time course to enhance their chances of returning to the workplace. [34641/13]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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The main financial support available to students attending further or higher education is the Student Grant Scheme administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Under the terms of the scheme, grant assistance is awarded to students who meet the prescribed conditions of funding including those relating to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means. In order to be considered for a grant a student is required, under Section 8(1)(b) of the Student Support Act 2011, to be in attendance on a full-time basis. To determine eligibility for the 2013/14 academic year the student should submit an online grant application to SUSI via www.susi.ie. Eligibility for welfare support is determined and administered by the Department of Social Protection. Any changes to its qualifying criteria for the back to education allowance are a matter for my colleague the Minister for Social Protection.