Seán Fleming (Laois-Offaly, Fianna Fail)
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507. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person in receipt of the back to education allowance will qualify for a Student Universal Support Ireland grant; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [4405/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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The main financial support available to students attending further and higher education courses is my Department's Student Grant Scheme. Under the student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution and meet the prescribed conditions of funding, including those which relate to nationality, residency, previous academic attainment and means.

Since September 2010, all new applicants in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), and the VTOS allowances for those pursuing PLC courses, are no longer eligible for maintenance support under the student grant scheme. However, students who qualify for the BTEA may be considered for support for the student contribution under the student grant scheme provided they satisfy the conditions of the relevant Student Grant Scheme and Student Support Regulations including those relating to residence, nationality, approved course, previous academic attainment and means.