Willie O'Dea (Limerick City, Fianna Fail)
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1039. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason a back-to-education allowance for a person (details supplied) has been suspended since 4 December 2018; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [54048/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The person concerned was in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance from the 23^rdJune 2018. They disclosed to the Department on the 5^thDecember 2018 that they were attending a full-time course of study since September 2018. Under Section 148(1) of the Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005, as amended, a person shall be disqualified from receipt of Jobseekers Allowance while attending a course of study.

Notice of the decision to suspend the Jobseekers Allowance claim issued to the customer on 11^thDecember 2018.

An application for Back To Education Allowance was received on 10^thDecember 2018. Section 10.3 of the Back To Education Allowance guidelines states that applications received more than 30 days after commencement of a course of study are deemed to be late and therefore cannot be considered for the scheme.

Notice of the decision to refuse the Back to Education Allowance application issued to the person on 11^thDecember 2018.

Should the person concerned be experiencing financial difficulty he should contact his local Intreo Centre to discuss his situation.

I trust that this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.