Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

345. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the masters degree courses covered under the back to education allowance scheme; and if the rules on this scheme changed in the past year. [21037/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The objective of the back to education allowance scheme (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. The BTEA, which is designed to support second chance education, 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.

Other than the Professional Masters in Education, which is a pre-requisite to taking up a teaching post, the BTEA does not provide income support to customers seeking to pursue a qualification at Masters Level.

The BTEA was never intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for that Department.

Overall, the priority for the Department is that the BTEA scheme will be focused, targeted and suitable for the needs of jobseekers and of the future skills needs of the economy. The operation of the BTEA has been comprehensively revised over the past two years and I have no plans to further alter the current criteria, as set out in the 2016 scheme guidelines.

Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

346. To ask the Minister for Social Protection why the back to education allowance scheme will only cover a masters degree in education; and if he will investigate the possibility of allowing it to cover additional masters degrees. [21040/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The objective of the back to education allowance scheme (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. The BTEA, which is designed to support second chance education, 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.

Other than the Professional Masters in Education, which is a pre-requisite to taking up a teaching post, the BTEA does not provide income support to customers seeking to pursue a qualification at Masters Level.

The BTEA was never intended to be an alternative form of funding for people entering or re-entering the third level education system. The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for that Department.

Clare Daly (Dublin Fingal, Independent)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

347. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to explore the possibility of providing an exemption to the progression rule for back to education allowance in cases where the original qualification was received more than a decade ago. [20470/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The objective of the Back to Education Allowance (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 and Skills.

A person wishing to pursue the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) has to satisfy a number of conditions. These include being a certain age, being in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, commencing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and progressing in the level of education held by the client with reference to the national framework of qualifications.

In certain circumstances, BTEA can be approved where the applicant proposes to undertake a course of study leading to a qualification at either FETAC Levels 5 or 6 where the applicant already holds qualification at the same level or lesser level. This applies, for example, where the previous educational award is deemed to be in an economic sector that is no longer growing.

The focus of BTEA is on providing assistance to the highest possible number of those in greatest needs and furthest from the labour market. Progression in education is a condition which is not unique to BTEA - State support for education purposes is grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one.

The operation of the BTEA has been revised over the past two years and I have no plans to further alter the current criteria, as set out in the 2016 scheme guidelines.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.