Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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373. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the average cost per participant on the back to education allowance; the cost of increasing the number of places on the allowance by 5%,10%,15% and 20%; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16585/17]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance provides income support for jobseekers and others in receipt of certain social welfare payments that pursue courses of education at second or third level. The objective of the scheme is to raise the educational and skill levels to enable jobseekers better access to the emerging needs of the labour market.

A person wishing to pursue a course of study under the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme must satisfy a number of conditions. These include age, being in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a specific period, be pursuing a full-time course of study leading to a recognised qualification in a recognised college and be progressing in the level of education with reference to the National Framework of Qualifications. Once a person satisfies these conditions and a Departmental case officer agrees the course of study is in line with their personal progression plan, their BTEA will be approved.

The average weekly payment to a BTEA participant during 2016 amounted to just over €196. There are no restrictions on the number of participants who satisfy the BTEA criteria being supported by the scheme.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.