Thomas Pringle (Donegal, Independent)
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15. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reverse the decision to means test persons receiving the back to education allowance, BTEA, which was implemented in April 2016 with no notification provided to students; if his attention has been drawn to the fact that local social protection offices are treating part time work on BTEA in the same manner as they would jobseeker's allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [28752/16]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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19. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will amend the current back to education allowance scheme legislation to take effect from the commencement of the 2016-2017 academic 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. [28741/16]

Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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26. To ask the Minister for Social Protection his plans to reverse the decision to means test the back to education allowance which came into effect in April 2016; if his attention has been drawn to issues facing persons seeking the grant such as persons working one hour per day over three consecutive days who are considered to be full-time workers; and if there is an education officer to deal with questions employed by his Department for the duration of the year. [28735/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 15, 19 and 26 together. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme that allows persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments the opportunity to pursue a course of study, while still maintaining their income support. Entitlement to the BTEA is conditional on having an on-going entitlement to the qualifying scheme payment. Changes have been introduced gradually to the BTEA following a review carried out on employment supports schemes in 2012. These changes have only been introduced for new applicants.

From the 2016/2017 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 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 the BTEA and that resources are directed at those most in need of assistance. In effect, this allows jobseekers to participate in a course of education while unemployed and continue to receive an income support equivalent to their jobseeker payment.

The processing of BTEA claims and related queries for people on jobseekers, transitional jobseekers or one parent family payments are dealt with by the relevant INTREO offices. Intreo is the single point of contact in my Department for all employment programmes and income supports and it is designed to provide a more streamlined and efficient approach for jobseekers engaging with the Department.

It is important to note that 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 purpose of the BTEA is to raise educational and skill levels in order to improve a welfare recipient’s employment prospects and the priority for my Department is to ensure that the allowance is focused and targeted at those most in need.