Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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672. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will clarify the changes introduced to the back to education allowance scheme for the 2016-2017 school year and the reasons for same; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26350/16]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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673. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend current back to education allowance scheme legislation to take effect from the commencement of the 2016-2017 school year by introducing a disregard of earnings up to €75 to allow students to earn money from part-time jobs to assist in funding their education; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26351/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 672 and 673 together.

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is designed primarily to support second chance education. It is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education in order to improve their employment prospects.

Entitlement to BTEA is conditional on having ongoing entitlement to the qualifying scheme payment. The BTEA scheme has been amended in recent years to ensure that the conditions are in line with the qualifying payment. These amendments include no longer approving third level courses of study being undertaken outside of Ireland starting from 2016. This is in line with the rules of social assistance payments which are not payable abroad. The only exception to this rule is where participation in the one year EU Erasmus programme is a compulsory part of the course.

In addition from the 2016/17 academic year, BTEA participants with eligibility based on jobseekers, transitional jobseekers or one parent family payments who engage in part-time work will be assessed in accordance with their primary payment. This new measure ensures that only participants who continue to satisfy the means test of their primary payment or another qualifying BTEA payment will continue to receive income support under BTEA and that resources are directed at those most in need of assistance.

These amendments were introduced following the review carried out on employment supports schemes in 2012. 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.

Overall, the priority for my 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. It is only in that context that changes to BTEA will be considered.