Ruth Coppinger (Dublin West, Socialist Party)
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257. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Social Protection in view of the fact that Masters in Education programmes for secondary teachers are part of the back to education scheme, her plans to amend the back to education allowance to allow for the Master of Arts in Socially Engaged Art in the National College of Art and Design, which is an accredited teaching qualification for further education by the Teaching Council. [31797/15]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA) is designed to support second chance education. It enables eligible persons to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.

The objective of BTEA is to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. Administration of BTEA by this Department is aligned with the student support schemes under the Department of Education& Skills. BTEA should not be viewed as an alternative to the student grant system.

Other than the Professional Masters in Education, which is a pre-requisite to taking up a teaching post, BTEA does not provide income support to customers seeking to pursue a qualification at Masters Level. I have no plans to alter the current arrangement.