Patrick Nulty (Dublin West, Independent)
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179. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will examine a case in relation to a back to education allowance in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Dublin; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10574/14]

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 social welfare 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 Department’s position is that support for funding towards third level courses should be by way of the normal supports provided under the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme. This scheme covers full-time courses of education from second level to higher diploma level in any discipline (level 8 in the National Framework of Qualifications ) or to a Professional Diploma in Education (Primary and Secondary Teaching; level 8 ). Other postgraduate qualifications including courses leading to a masters qualification are not included.

There is currently an on-going review of the Back to Education Scheme. This review aims to ensure engagement with customers of working age, who are in receipt of specified social welfare payments, in order to support them and their families in progressing into employment or to another appropriate progression towards that. At present, discussions on the future of the Back to Education Allowance scheme including eligible courses are on-going. This may involve changes to the Back to Education scheme prior to the commencement of the next academic year. Should any changes be made they will be detailed on Department’s website and relevant publications.