Madam, – Some clarification is required following a recent letter on the back-to-education allowance (Aoife Molloy, June 13th).
Aontas deals with regular queries from adults thinking of returning to education. Many of them return to third level via an Access/PLC course or through another further education route. The back-to-education allowance is a financial support which allows an adult to retain their social welfare benefits while returning to third-level education on a full-time basis to complete an approved course.
The back to education allowance is administered by the Department of Social Protection (not the Department of Education and Skills), and the third-level option is open to adults in receipt of a social welfare benefit for more than nine months.
Last year more than 20,000 adults were approved for the back-to-education allowance, up substantially on previous years in line with unemployment.
The main barrier experienced by adults in receipt of the back-to-education allowance as communicated to us relates to the decision taken by the previous government in budget 2010 to remove the eligibility for a maintenance grant for those who qualify for the back-to-education allowance.
This has caused financial hardship to many adults, where the grant was used to supplement costs such as transport and childcare.
We believe that this has acted as a disincentive for adults to return to education – particularly those with young families, or who may be living in rural areas at a distance from their third-level institute of choice.
The back to education allowance is name-checked in the new programme for government, with both parties making the commitment to revise the criteria.
We hope that the Government will follow through on this particular promise, allowing faster access for those on social welfare who want a third-level education, and ultimately enhancing their employment prospects. – Yours, etc,