Martin Kenny (Sligo-Leitrim, Sinn Fein)
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322. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will review the case of a person's (detail supplied) application for back to education allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5898/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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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 including being in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period.

The person concerned commenced her course of study on 5^thSeptember 2016, however as her Jobseekers Allowance application (dated 16^thSeptember 2016) and subsequent BTEA Application form (dated 19^thSeptember 2016) were received after the commencement date of her full-time course of study she was deemed not eligible for BTEA in this instance.

The person in question was advised of this decision on the 27^thSeptember 2016 and afforded the opportunity to bring any further facts or evidence to the attention of the Department and to have decision reviewed by another officer. The person in question did not avail of this opportunity.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.