Seán Sherlock (Cork East, Labour)
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192. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if those on the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment are eligible for the springboard conversion programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [22801/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Under the July Stimulus the back to education allowance has been extended to people who have been in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. The Department's back to education allowance provides income support for people who wish to pursue third level courses or SpringBoard.

In advance of commencing a Springboard course, a person in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will be required to establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare weekly payment, generally a Jobseeker’s payment. A person will be required to transfer from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment to the relevant qualifying social welfare scheme to continue to receive income support while pursuing education.

The qualification period will be deemed to have been met for a person transferring from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. This means someone applying for a full-time springboard course will be deemed to have satisfied the required 9 month qualification period when they transfer from the Pandemic Unemployment Payment. Other back to education allowance eligibility conditions apply, including the age of the applicant.

A person who is in receipt of the Pandemic Unemployment Payment will need to complete an application form for Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit (Form UP1 or UP1 JBSE if they are self- employed) and include it with the BTEA application when posting it to their local Intreo Centre. Further information on the Back To Education Allowance scheme is available on www.gov.ie.

I hope that this clarifies the position for you.