THE Back to Education Allowance from the Department of Social, Community and Family affairs has been revamped and extended. The new scheme, which replaces current second- and thirdlevel allowances, is now available to those with a disability allowance or blind person's pension as well as to those aged over 21 years who have been receiving social welfare payments for at least six months.

Payments will be for the duration of courses, including all holiday periods and the existing annual book allowance of £100 rises to £150. The scope of the scheme has been extended to allow unemployed people to attend a wider range of courses (such as personal development and job-oriented training) than before. Those attending courses may continue to receive their existing welfare payments.

With the extension of the programme a new course, the national certificate in technology, becomes eligible as an approved option. This course is available at Regional Technical Colleges around the country and it is aimed at recruiting, educating and training technicians to fill vacancies in the information technology sector.

Details of the expanded scheme are available in a booklet from local social welfare offices, on Aertel pages 670-674 or from the Department's central information service at (01) 874 8444.