Kevin O'Keeffe (Cork East, Fianna Fail)
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249. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if the post graduate level 9 in accountancy will be included in the back to education allowance scheme (details supplied). [53397/17]

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.

Access to BTEA at postgraduate level is limited. BTEA is only payable to persons who wish to pursue a postgraduate course of study that leads to a higher diploma (H-Dip) qualification in any discipline or to persons in pursuit of a Professional Masters in Education. An exception to the eligibility rule for masters is made whereby a person is admitted to a master’s programme based solely on life experience and provided the applicant is not the holder of any third level qualification.

The ACCA post graduate level 9 in accountancy is not eligible for BTEA.

Administration of BTEA is aligned with the student support schemes under the Department of Education and Skills. BTEA should not be viewed as an alternative to the student grant system.

I have no plans to alter the current range of courses covered by the scheme.