Written answers

Wednesday, 16 September 2020

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Back to Education Allowance

Photo of Niall CollinsNiall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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101. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will address the case of a person (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24383/20]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The back to education allowance (BTEA) is a scheme that allows persons in receipt of certain social welfare payments the opportunity to pursue a course of study, while still maintaining their income support, subject to satisfying a number of conditions. 

The conditions include progressing in the level of education held by an applicant with reference to the national framework of qualifications.  An applicant will only be supported to pursue a level of education beyond their current level. State support for education purposes is generally grounded on a student progressing from one qualification level to a higher one. 

Applicants holding a qualification at tertiary education level (certificate, diploma, primary degree or postgraduate qualification) will not be approved for BTEA to pursue a course at a similar or lower qualification level.

I trust this clarifies the situation for the Deputy.

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