Fiona O'Loughlin (Kildare South, Fianna Fail)
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509. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the appeals process in place for a person who wishes to appeal a back-to-education allowance decision; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [51940/17]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance is one of a number of non-statutory schemes operated by my Department. Decisions made by officers of the Department are based on published guidelines (available on the Department's website www.welfare.ie) setting out the conditions of entitlement. Decisions that are made on non-statutory schemes cannot be appealed to the Social Welfare Appeals Office. However, if a person is dissatisfied with a decision and the basis for it, a review of the decision may be sought. During a review, the application is re-examined by a more senior officer not involved in the original decision, including any new information or evidence provided by the applicant in support of the review.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.