Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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615. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection her views on a matter (details supplied) regarding the back to education allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47919/18]

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 as long as they continue to maintain eligibility to an underlying social welfare payment, e.g. jobseeker's allowance.  The Deputy will be aware that I recently announced an increase in social welfare rates of payment from next March which will apply to BTEA participants.

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.

Students are not eligible to receive the maintenance element of the grant from SUSI if they are in receipt of BTEA. The type of funding that a BTEA recipients may be eligible for will depend on the course that they are studying. The eligibility rules that govern the payment of a student 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 at a rate of €500, payable to BTEA participants with a payment in respect of a qualified child on their BTEA payment. This grant has been introduced to assist parents with the costs of returning to education.

Additionally the age related payments for all BTEA participants were abolished from September 2017. Jobseekers under age 26 and receiving a reduced age-related payment, now receive a weekly payment of up to the maximum rate of €198 per week for the academic year while on BTEA.

Any further changes to the rates of payment by my Department would have to be considered in the overall budgetary process.  I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.