Joe Higgins (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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149. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will intervene in the case of a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 to ensure the person receives back to education allowance or other assistance to continue in education and training. [45835/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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In order to qualify for a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) to pursue a third level course a person must be in receipt of a qualifying payment for a period of nine months. A waiting period is considered essential given that the BTEA confers entitlement to income support for an indefinite period and this waiting period is considered necessary in the context of targeting scarce resources. According to the records of this Department the person concerned does not meet the qualifying criteria for the BTEA. This Department does not offer specific supports for students pursuing third level qualifications outside of the Back to Education programme.