Written answers

Tuesday, 25 January 2022

Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection

Social Welfare Eligibility

Photo of Bernard DurkanBernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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407. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if there are supports available to a person (details supplied). [2949/22]

Photo of Heather HumphreysHeather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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The person referred to in the Deputy’s question made an application to my Department for Jobseeker's Benefit on September 13th, 2021, but this application was disallowed by a Deciding Officer as the customer had indicated in the application that they were not available for full-time work, were not looking for full-time work and would not accept any other type of work as they were in full-time education. Written confirmation of this decision was sent to the applicant in a letter dated the 20th September 2021 and this letter also informed the applicant of their right to appeal this decision to the independent Social Welfare Appeals Office. The decision was appealed on September 27th last.

From the documentation and information supplied it would appear that the person referred to in the Deputy’s question left employment to undertake a course of education.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science is responsible for policy and funding of Higher and Further Education in Ireland. If attending a course approved by that Department and if a person meets the relevant criteria, they may qualify for assistance with fees and maintenance while undertaking their studies. Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) is the single awarding authority for all higher and further education grants.

My Department offers support for those in receipt of certain social welfare payments who are seeking to undertake educational courses through the Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA). This is an educational opportunities scheme for those wishing to pursue second or third level courses of education. The objective of the scheme is to raise educational and skills levels to enable successful applicants to improve labour market opportunities by providing them with income support while they study.

In order to qualify for BTEA the applicant must meet the qualifying criteria for this scheme. These criteria include that an applicant, if over 21 years and in receipt of a Jobseekers payment from my Department, must have been in receipt of this payment for 9 months (234 days).

To date, no BTEA application has been received by my Department from the person referred to in the Deputy’s question.

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