Michael Moynihan (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

51. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will change the rules regarding back to education allowance to ensure that persons coming from Youthreach are eligible to qualify for the allowance immediately after they finish their Youthreach programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18731/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed to support jobseekers to undertake second chance education. A person wishing to pursue a course of study under BTEA must satisfy a number of conditions such as age and be in receipt of a qualifying payment for a specified period of time amongst others.

Youthreach participants are eligible to apply for BTEA subject to establishing an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare payment immediately prior to the commencement of their approved course of study.

In addition, time spent on the Youthreach programme is counted towards the qualifying period and is considered for BTEA purposes ‘to be out of formal education’ and thereby granting earlier access to the programme than would otherwise apply.