Martin Heydon (Kildare South, Fine Gael)
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45. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the financial supports that are available in respect of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who hopes to complete a course in animation game design; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16928/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments, who wish to pursue an approved full-time second or third level day course of education in an approved college leading to a recognised qualification. To qualify for participation in the scheme an applicant (jobseeker recipient) must be in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for at least 9 months (234 days) prior to the start date of an approved third level course of study. Periods spent on the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) may count towards the qualifying period for BTEA purposes. In order to qualify for BTEA, from a VTOS course, the applicant must establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately prior to commencement of their course.

In order to establish eligibility to a qualifying social welfare payment and to determine if the qualification criteria for BTEA are satisfied, the person concerned should apply for jobseeker’s allowance (JA) when his current VTOS course is complete.