Almost €200 million available for Back to Education Allowance Scheme for 2011/12 academic year - Burton [welfare.ie]
- Published: 10 August 2011
The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton TD announced today (10th August 2011) that over €198 million is being provided for her Department's Back to Education Allowance scheme (BTEA) for the 2011/12 academic year.
The Back to Education Allowance is a scheme which encourages and facilitates people on certain social welfare payments, such as jobseekers, lone parents and disability, to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the active work force.
Participants in the BTEA scheme are paid a weekly allowance equivalent to the maximum standard rate of the social welfare payment they were receiving prior to starting an approved course of study. The course of study pursued must be a second or third level course of study in a recognised institution on a full time basis. In addition to the weekly payment, participants are entitled to an annual cost of education allowance of €500.
Minister Burton said: "Where it applies, people on the Back to Education Allowance scheme may also get an increase in respect of a qualified adult and each qualified child. An annual Cost of Education Allowance of €500.00 is also paid at the start of each academic year."
Full Story: www.welfare.ie
