Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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218. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her plans to address the anomaly whereby lone parents in receipt of BTEA are deemed ineligible to receive the SUSI maintenance grant in view of the fact that this serves as just one of many barriers which lone parents face in accessing education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [18387/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA), operated by my Department, 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.

The BTEA is not 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, is Ireland’s single national awarding authority for all higher and further education grants.

The Deputy should note that applicants approved for BTEA are not eligible for a maintenance grant from SUSI. The type of funding that BTEA recipients may be eligible from SUSI for will depend on the course that they are studying. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student maintenance grant are a matter for the Department of Education and Skills.

From the 2017/2018 academic year this Department reintroduced the annual Cost of Education Grant payable to BTEA participants with a child on their BTEA payment. This payment has been introduced to assist with the costs of returning to education.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.