Pearse Doherty (Donegal, Sinn Fein)
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455. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the estimated cost of each €1 increase to the age reduced back to education weekly rate in 2018; and the full year effect. [33552/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme is one of a range of activation supports and policies administered by my Department. The main focus of the BTEA is to assist qualifying applicants to improve their qualifications and, therefore, improve their prospects of returning to sustainable employment. 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.

The number of new participants under 25 years of age who were supported under the BTEA at the end of the 2016/17 academic year was 2,948. From September 1st 2017, all students participating on BTEA will be paid at the maximum weekly rate applicable to their underlying scheme of entitlement. The removal of the age-related rate of €160 per week for these students would cost €3.8m for a full academic year. The full cost will be known once all of the applications for the upcoming 2017/18 academic year are received and approved.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.