Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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622. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection to outline her plans to review the process with the back-to-education allowance in view of the fact that a person has to apply each year for a back-to-education allowance if doing a four-year course despite the fact that previously the allowance granted the person the full four years of study; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6824/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The objective of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is to assist those who are distant from the labour market to acquire the necessary education to improve their chances of becoming independent of the social welfare system. Administration of the BTEA by my Department is aligned with the student support schemes under the Department of Education and Skills.

The Allowance enables social welfare customers in receipt of certain payments to pursue full-time education courses and to continue to receive income support in the form of the BTEA, subject to the customer remaining eligible for a DSP payment. In general, most customers will also have certain registration and related college fees paid by Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI). Students participating in a multi-year course do not have to reapply for BTEA on commencing a subsequent academic year. They are required to re-establish their entitlement to a qualifying payment at the beginning of each academic year and satisfy the Department that they remain in full time education.

The operation of the BTEA has been comprehensively revised over the past two years, including the introduction of the cost of education allowance for participants with dependent children and the abolition of age-related payments for all participants. I have no plans to further alter the current criteria, as set out in the scheme guidelines.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.