Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

404. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason 234 calendar days is not used to assess eligibility for the back to education allowance; if 234 calendar days are not being used, if 273 calendar days are being used; if so, if this can be stated clearly on the website of her Department; if it is the case that recipients of the pandemic unemployment payment automatically qualify for the back to education allowance, whereas persons who were made redundant during the Covid-19 pandemic do not; if so, the reason for same; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56109/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) provides income support for jobseekers and certain others in receipt of social welfare payments who pursue courses of education at second or third level, subject to meeting the qualifying conditions.

To qualify for BTEA, a person must be in receipt of a social welfare payment for a minimum period of 3 months if pursuing a 2nd level course, or 9 months prior to the date of commencement of their 3rd level course.

Jobseekers who are awarded statutory redundancy may have access to the BTEA Scheme immediately on being made redundant or within one year of the award of Statutory Redundancy. The qualifying period was also waived for recipients of PUP. A jobseeker including a PUP recipient must first establish an entitlement to a BTEA qualifying social welfare payment immediately prior to the commencement of an approved course of study.

The criteria for the period of time on a claim is determined with reference to a customer’s underlying entitlement to their primary scheme. If a person is fully unemployed, the 3 and 9 month criteria refers to the calendar period. However, if a person is partially unemployed and receiving jobseeker payments for specific days, for example in the case of part-time or casual employment, this calendar period is extended. This period is extended such that the 234 days requirement for a third level course is met.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

405. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will extend the back to work enterprise allowance for those applicants who were approved between February 2020 and June 2021 considering many were not able to open their businesses due to the Covid-19 pandemic; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [56115/21]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Back to Work Enterprise Allowance (BTWEA) scheme offers support for people who are long-term unemployed and who are interested in self-employment as a route to entering the labour market. The scheme plays a vital role in supporting the development of new enterprises for the long-term unemployed and is payable for up to a 24-month period from the commencement of their new business.

All participants of the BTWEA can receive their full period of entitlement of 24 months and, therefore, should not lose out on the support. This includes anyone who contacted the Department to suspend their allowance while their business closed during Covid related restrictions. Where someone suspended their BTWEA, they can avail of the remainder of their 24 months on reopening their business. There are no plans to provide for an extension of this period.

Where a person’s entitlement to BTWEA exhausts and they are continuing to operate at reduced levels of business activity there may be alternative income supports available depending on the individual’s circumstances, including support under the means tested Jobseeker's Allowance scheme.

If the Deputy is referring to a specific individual, I would advise the person to contact their local Intreo Centre for advice.

I trust this clarifies the position for the Deputy.