Verona Murphy (Wexford, Independent)
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907. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if she will immediately remove the means testing on the humanitarian assistance towards flood damage scheme for families affected by Christmas Day flooding in County Wexford; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [1045/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Department of Housing, Planning and Local Government is the lead Department for severe weather emergencies and the Office of Public Works (OPW) has responsibility for capital flood relief activities.  However, my Department has an important role to play in assisting households in the immediate aftermath of emergency events, such as flooding, under the humanitarian assistance scheme.

The purpose of the humanitarian assistance scheme is to provide income-tested financial support to people whose homes are damaged and who are not in a position to meet costs for essential needs, household items and, in some instances, structural repair.  Assistance is not available under the scheme for losses which are covered by insurance or for commercial and business losses.

Emergency income support payments to cover essential items such as food, clothing and personal items are issued quickly in the immediate aftermath of the weather event.  Supports towards the replacement of white goods, basic furniture items and other essential household items may take longer as it is not until the flood water abates and houses dry out that the full extent of the damage to homes becomes known.  The longer term supports can cover remedial works such as plastering, relaying of floors, electrical re-wiring and painting and it can take several months before this stage of the response is completed.

The income test for humanitarian assistance is significantly more generous than that which applies in the case of means-tested social welfare schemes generally.  The basic principle of the income test is that individuals and families with average levels of income will qualify for assistance. 

For example, a family consisting of a couple and two children with a gross household income of €70,000 or less will receive 100% of the amount allowable in respect of their application.  A reduced or tapered level of support can be provided in cases where such families have income more than €70,000.  The income test determines the household’s ability to meet the costs of restoring its home to a habitable condition. 

The scheme is available to provide support to householders following the recent flooding event in Co. Wexford.  The Community Welfare Service has been engaging with 56 households of which 38 have made application for assistance.  Latest figures show that over €71,000 has been paid to 27 households with the remaining applications under consideration.  

If any homeowner affected by the recent flooding in Co. Wexford needs to access these supports, they should make contact with their local Community Welfare Service at DSP, Portsmouth House Shannon Quay Enniscorthy Co Wexford, the contact details are 087 6181268 or kay.scanlan@welfare.ie.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.

Mattie McGrath (Tipperary, Independent)
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908. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the reason the back to education allowance is not payable to those completing a masters degree, masters in education with the exception of a professional masters in education in primary education given the current pressures for teachers; if this will be reconsidered and the current position of same. [1061/22]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The Back to Education Allowance Scheme (BTEA) provides individuals with a second chance education that will improve their prospects of securing employment.  The Scheme is not intended to provide the  basis for extended participation in education and for this reason the circumstances in which BTEA can be approved for postgraduate studies are limited.

Post-graduate courses that lead to a higher diploma in any discipline are eligible for support under the BTEA.

Also, certain post-graduate courses that lead to a Master's level qualification are eligible for support. These are:

- Professional Masters in Education (PME - Level 9).  The PME is a two-year, full-time programme for graduates for the purposes of registration as a primary or post-primary teacher. 

- Masters degree (Level 9) based solely on life experience where the customer holds no other third level qualification.

These are the only circumstances in which the BTEA can be approved for a Master's level qualification. 

The Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) Grant, payable by the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science represents the primary support for people pursuing third level education.

If the Deputy has a query in respect of an individual case, they should provide the details and I would be happy to examine it.  

I trust that this clarifies the position for the Deputy.