Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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300. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if there are specific programmes or schemes under the remit of his Department that support those 40 years of age and over that are long-term unemployed enter or return to third level education to reskill and retrain; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11313/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Education and Skills, represents the primary support for persons pursuing education. My Department provides income support in the form of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme for people on certain social welfare payments who wish to participate in full- time education. The scheme provides an approved recipient with a weekly payment while they are participating in full-time education.

A person wishing to pursue BTEA must satisfy a number of conditions. These include being in receipt of a prescribed social welfare payment for a specified time period, commencing the first year of a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and, in general, progressing in the level of education held by the person, with reference to the national framework of qualifications.

A person must be at least 21 years of age and in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 3 months if pursuing a second level course, 9 months for third level study or 12 months if pursuing the Professional Masters of Education.

In general, BTEA can be approved where the course of study leads to a higher qualification on the National Framework of Qualifications other than that already held by the applicant up to a level 8.

A jobseeker who is interested in returning to education should make an appointment with a case officer in their Intreo Centre to discuss the BTEA, as part of their personal progression plan.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.