Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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657. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the back to education or education welfare payments available for refugee or migrant youth who fail to quality for a SUSI grant due to the fact that they have not been in the country for three years yet are pursuing third level education and are from a disadvantaged background; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16513/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The back to education allowance scheme (BTEA) provides people with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment. It enables eligible people to pursue approved education courses and to continue to receive income support for the duration of a course of study, subject to meeting certain conditions.

To continue to receive a BTEA payment, a student must continue to satisfy the conditions of their primary welfare payment. This ensures that the BTEA resources are directed at those most in need of assistance.

Protection Applicants who are looking to study full-time and who have receive their Stamp 4 (Permission to Remain) may be entitled to apply for BTEA. Ordinarily a person must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment for at least nine months before being eligible to apply for the scheme when pursuing a third level qualification. Time spent in Direct Provision is counted towards this BTEA qualification period. Any person seeking to enter education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.

If there is a particular case that the Deputy has a concern about, the details should be forwarded to my Department for review.

I trust this clarifies the position at this time.