The Department of Social Protection is to provide almost €200 million for the 2011/2012 Back to Education Allowance Scheme. The programme allows people getting certain social welfare payments to continue to receive their payment while taking an approved second or third level course. Participants also receive an annual ‘cost of education’ allowance of €500.
Fine Gael Councillor, Neale Richmond, welcomed the funding, saying, “The Back to Education Allowance plays a vital role in allowing those who have been out of the workforce for some time to improve their skills, qualifications and confidence before rejoining the workforce.”
“The scheme has also been modified to improve accessibility: for example, people who completed part of their course on a part-time basis, but now satisfy the conditions, may now apply to continue their education on a full-time basis.
“Education will be the key to our economic recovery so it is good news that the Department are making these provisions for the scheme. Further information and the detailed qualifying conditions for the Back to Education Allowance are available on www.welfare.ie.”