John Paul Phelan (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fine Gael)
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339. To ask the Minister for Social Protection further to the changes in the VTOS and back to education allowance qualifications which were brought in in August, without any notification and which said changes will have detrimental effect on persons who are upskilling and as a consequence will be unable to part take in any course, a large number of persons have been accepted into courses since May and now as a result of these changes, they are unable to take up the placement; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [39654/13]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a second chance education opportunities scheme.

The numbers availing of BTEA and the associated cost of the scheme has risen dramatically in recent years. Numbers for the current 2012/13 academic year are 25,961 which represents a 191% increase on the 2007/08 numbers.

As the Deputy will appreciate, managing expenditure demands for 2013 and beyond poses difficult challenges and requires a critical analysis of all expenditure items. Budget 2013 provided for the cessation of the €300 cost of education allowance for new and existing BTEA participants from January 1^st 2013. From January 1^st 2013, the practice of uprating those on means reduced social welfare payments up to the maximum personal rate of €188 per week was discontinued for new entrants only. A new maximum rate of €160 per week for persons under 25 year olds on a jobseekers payment who commence BTEA after 1^st January 2013 was also introduced. Those receive a BTEA payment before 1^st January 2013 and who are progressing, or who are in mid-course are not be affected by these changes. All changes to the BTEA scheme were published in various publications and the Department's website since January 2013 and were subject to debate in this House.

The BTEA scheme remains an attractive scheme for social welfare recipients who wish to further their education and pursue qualifications. A significant majority of those entering BTEA are in receipt of the maximum personal rate of payment of €188 per week, which compares favourably with other State funded supports for those pursuing education. The priority for this Department is that BTEA will be focused, targeted and suitable for the needs of the unemployed and the labour market in the future.

The Department of Education and Skills has responsibility for the VTOS scheme operated through local .