Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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2119. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will reverse the decision to means test income derived from part time work for those in receipt of the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29112/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, 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 as 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.

To qualify for BTEA, a person must be in receipt of one of the following social welfare payments for a minimum period - 3 months if pursuing a second level course, or 9 months if pursuing a third level course.

- Jobseekers Allowance or Jobseekers Benefit;

- One-parent Family Payment;

- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Contributory) Pension;

- Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's (Non-Contributory) Pension;

- Disability Allowance;

- Carer’s Allowance

- Deserted Wife’s Benefit or Allowance;

- Blind Pension;

- Invalidity Pension;

- Illness Benefit (2 years) for both second and third level courses;

- Incapacity Supplement (based on a life Disablement Pension).

From the start of 2016/17 academic year, all new BTEA participants who engage in part-time work while on the Allowance are being means assessed in accordance with the primary payment. This measure was introduced to ensure equity, from a means perspective, between BTEA recipients and recipients of the primary payment upon which their entitlement to the Allowance is based. I have no plans to change these procedures.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
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2122. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will address the anomaly by which lone parents in receipt of rent supplement and the one parent family payment or jobseeker's transition payment that want to take up education or training are not eligible for SUSI maintenance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29116/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA), operated by my Department, 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.

The Deputy should note that applicants approved for BTEA (or VTOS for those pursuing post-leaving certificate courses) are not eligible for the student support grants operated by SUSI. BTEA participants are, however, eligible for support to offset the cost of the student registration fee, including other fees payable to access courses, if the BTEA participant satisfies the eligibility criteria for both.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.