Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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416. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there are social welfare supports available to persons undertaking a masters degree or if there is a saving clause in the rules of the back to education allowance scheme, BTEA, allowing it to be accessed in certain circumstances by post graduate students; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9743/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA) is designed to support second chance education. It 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.

The BTEA is not 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.

Access to BTEA at postgraduate level is subject to the following conditions. BTEA is payable to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a higher diploma (H-Dip) qualification in any discipline or to persons in pursuit of a professional masters of education (primary and secondary school teaching). The only exception to the eligibility rule for masters is made whereby a person is admitted to a master’s programme based solely on life experience and provided the applicant is not the holder of any third level qualification.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.