Robert Troy (Longford-Westmeath, Fianna Fail)
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127. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if a person who is currently working in a low-waged job can qualify for a back-to-education allowance or any other type of monetary assistance to study nursing in college. [8906/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The student support grant payable by the Department of Education and Skills and administered by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) represents the primary support for persons pursuing education in Ireland. The Department of Social Protection does not offer specific supports for students pursuing third level qualifications outside of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

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 social welfare scheme payment.

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.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.