Clare Daly (Dublin North, Socialist Party)
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87. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will ensure that those who were in receipt of a back-to-education allowance can complete the H. Dip. with financial assistance which was the case previously when they initiated their course. [17090/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) scheme is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses that leads to a higher qualification than that already held and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to conditions. Post-graduate courses leading to qualifications at NFQ levels 9 and 10, including masters, are not eligible for support from BTEA. Persons pursuing an approved higher diploma in any discipline must be at least 24 years of age at the date of commencement of the course and meet the criteria and qualifying conditions for BTEA. In general, if a jobseeker is already in receipt of BTEA support, that support may be continued if the conditions required for BTEA are sustained.