Tackling disadvantage: Second-chance education Minister for Social and Family Affairs, Mary Coughlan TD, defends her reform of the Back to Education Allowance

The BTEA scheme is a second-chance education scheme designed to assist unemployed people and other disadvantaged groups who are being held back in their search for employment by a lack of qualifications.

On these pages recently, Colm Jordan, President of the Union of Students in Ireland, gave a misleading and inaccurate account of some recent changes made in the scheme.

The changes to elements of the BTEA scheme that I made ensure that payments are focused on those who most need training or qualifications in order to gain a foothold in the labour market.

Earlier this year, I introduced a number of amendments to the BTEA scheme based on an independent review. That Independent Estimates Review, in its report to the Minister for Finance, commented that in many instances students find work during the summer period, either at home or abroad. In those circumstances, the review recommended that funding be discontinued for the summer period and this was accepted by Government.

At the time, there was a political debate suggesting that the scheme, in its entirety, should be closed down - however, the changes that I made to the scheme focused on ensuring that people who could get work during the summer period were no longer a drain on limited resources. This measure ensures that the integrity of the scheme is maintained and guarantees that limited resources are directed to those most in need.

The only people affected by the changes are BTEA participants who were in receipt of an unemployment payment prior to participation in the BTEA scheme. The BTEA was not, and is still not, means tested.

Persons who were in receipt of Lone Parents, Disability Allowance, Disability Benefit, Unemployability Supplement, Invalidity Pension, Blind Pension or Carer's Allowance will continue to be paid BTEA during the summer.

The BTEA is not means-tested and where recipients obtain or access part-time employment this does not affect their entitlements. In addition, Higher Education Grants and Education Allowances are not factored into the eligibility for this scheme.

And a further safety net for participants allows that those who are unable to find employment during the summer may be entitled to unemployment assistance or benefit, subject to satisfying the usual qualifying conditions. They may also continue to qualify for rent or mortgage-interest supplement under the supplementary welfare allowance scheme on the same basis as other social welfare recipients. It was decided that, in relation to new applications for participation in the Back to Education Allowance Scheme from January 1st, 2003, the allowance would be available only to applicants in respect of the pursuit of undergraduate qualifications to primary degree level. People in possession of a third-level qualification have already achieved a good level of academic attainment, which should impact positively on their employment prospects. In a time of financial constraint, supports should be directed to those with more pressing needs. I also recently asked officials to liaise with the relevant bodies to identify specific postgraduate courses, such as the Higher Diploma (H.Dip.), which add significantly to a person's employability and to which BTEA should continue to apply. As a consequence, the allowance will continue to support those wishing to take up a Higher Diploma (H.Dip.) in all disciplines or the Graduate Diploma in Primary School Teaching.

BTEA participants are paid a weekly allowance equivalent to maximum standard rate of the Social Welfare payment that qualified them for participation in the scheme. They also retain entitlement to secondary benefits such as fuel allowance, cost of education allowance and possible medical card and rent allowance entitlements. In addition, an annual grant of €254 for books and other materials is also paid at the beginning of each academic year.

Also, all BTEA participants who, as an integral part of their course, have to undertake a period of work experience or a placement during the summer will continue to receive the allowance. Postgraduate students who continue research or who are preparing a thesis for submission will also continue to be paid for the summer.

I am determined that in a situation where priorities had to be set and choices made, those in the greatest need of assistance under the BTEA scheme have been protected.