Seán Haughey (Dublin Bay North, Fianna Fail)
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133. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if recipients of the Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment paid at the top rate will be made eligible for free Springboard courses; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25771/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance has recently been extended as part of the July Stimulus in response to Covid-19. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum period of time before pursuing training or education. This condition is now being waived for recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment seeking to return to education, including SpringBoard courses. This provides that those impacted by the pandemic have education options available to them for the upcoming academic year.

If a person currently in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment wants to apply for a SpringBoard course through the Back to Education Allowance, they should apply for and transfer to a Jobseeker’s payment. Their rate of Back to Education Allowance payment will be linked to their qualifying social welfare rate of payment.

Any person in receipt of the pandemic unemployment payment and seeking to apply for a SpringBoard course should contact their Intreo Centre to discuss the options available to them having regard to their specific circumstances.

I trust this clarifies the matter.