Tony McLoughlin (Sligo-Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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1177. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will remove the means-test requirement for households in which a mature student wishes to return to education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34308/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is an educational opportunities scheme for persons in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments wishing to pursue second or third-level courses of education in order to improve their employment prospects.

Entitlement to BTEA is conditional on having on-going entitlement to the qualifying scheme payment. The BTEA scheme has been amended in recent years to ensure that the conditions are in line with the qualifying payment. BTEA participants with eligibility based on jobseekers, transitional jobseekers or one parent family payments who engage in part-time work will be assessed in accordance with their primary payment. This measure ensures that only participants who continue to satisfy the means test of their primary payment will continue to receive income support under the BTEA and that resources are directed at those most in need of assistance.

The BTEA was never 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.

A new €500 annual Cost of Education Allowance will be made available to BTEA participants with children from the next academic year in September. This will help parents, including lone parents, to return to education. Additionally the age-related payments will no longer apply to participants of the BTEA and, as a result, students who have a reduced payment on their primary scheme payment will now benefit from the maximum rate of payment from the new academic year.

Overall, the priority for my Department is that the BTEA scheme will be focused, targeted and suitable for the needs of jobseekers and on the future skills needs of the economy. It is only in that context that changes to BTEA will be considered. I have no plans to change the current rules for the Allowance.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.