Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)
- Name of the instrument - Local language
- Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)
- Name of the instrument - English translation
- Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)
- Scheme ID
- 295
- Country
- Ireland
- Reporting year
- 2020
- Type of instrument
- Grant for individuals
- Sub-type of instrument
- Lump-sum support
- Type of entry
- Single instrument
- Short description
The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme for unemployed people, lone parents, and people with disabilities who receive certain payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DSP). The allowance is paid to people who wish to pursue approved second or third-level courses of education. The BTEA is not an unemployment payment and is paid instead of social welfare. The payment is matched to the benefit received by the applicant prior to receipt of the Back to Education Allowance. Those with a dependent child receive an annual Cost of Education Allowance of EUR 500 in addition.
- Level of operation
- National
- Name of a part of the country
- Not applicable
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Not applicable
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- Not applicable
- Relevance
- Key instrument
- Legal basis
- Government Decision S.29416 of 8 October 1996
- Objective(s) and target(s)
- The BTEA is a non-statutory second-chance education scheme for jobseekers, lone parents and people with disabilities currently in receipt of certain qualifying social welfare payments who would like to undertake a full-time second or third level education course, but retain access to a welfare payment.
- Year of implementation
- 1998
- Operation/management
- The BTEA is administered and managed by the Department of Social Protection.
- Eligible group(s)
- Eligible groups must receive one of a set of support payments from the DSP for at least 3 months for second level option or 9 months for the third level options. Eligible people must be out of formal education for two years (if aged between 18 and 21) or aged at least 21 (aged 24 for the postgraduate study option).
- Education and training eligible
- Second level qualifications can be attained at community, comprehensive, secondary or vocational schools and must be a full-time day course, lead to a qualification recognised by the Department of Education and Skills or lead to a qualification approved by Quality and Qualifications Ireland up to level The third level option covers courses at approved universities, third level colleges or institutions that are full-time day courses and approved by the Department of Education and Skills for the Student Grant Scheme or are recognised by Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
- The payment is matched to the benefit received by the applicant prior to receipt of the Back to Education Allowance. Those with a dependent child receive an annual Cost of Education Allowance of EUR 500 in addition.
- Eligible costs
- The BTEA allowance is paid as a social benefit rather than on pre-defined eligible cots.
- Volumes of funding
- 2018: EUR 78 690 000 2017: EUR 93 860 000 2016: EUR 114 830 000
- Beneficiaries/take up
- 2018: 8 816 2017: 10 916 2016: 13 895
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
- Department of Social Protection (DSP)
- Monitoring/evaluation reports available
- ESRI, An Evaluation of the Back to Education Allowance (2015): https://www.esri.ie/system/files/media/file-uploads/2015-11/RS47.pdf
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ff3e80-back-to-education-programme-sw…
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/ff3e80-back-to-education-programme-sw…
- Recent changes
No recent amendment
Recent changes in response to COVID-19
No changes
- Sources
- Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, Statistical Information on Social Welfare Services, Annual Report 2018: http://www.dsfa.ie/en/downloads/2018-Report.pdf
- Operational guidelines: back to education allowance, Department of Social Protection: https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/5afe0f-operational-guidelines-back-to…
- Service Guidelines, Back to Education Allowance, Department of Social Protection: https://www.gov.ie/en/service/418e3f-back-to-education-allowance/#
- Citizens Information, Back to Education Allowance: https://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_pay…
- ESRI, An Evaluation of the Back to Education Allowance (2015): https://www.esri.ie/system/files/media/file-uploads/2015-11/RS47.pdf
On this page:
- Short description
- Level of operation
- Name of a part of the country
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- Relevance
- Legal basis
- Objective(s) and target(s)
- Year of implementation
- Operation/management
- Eligible group(s)
- Education and training eligible
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
- Eligible costs
- Volumes of funding
- Beneficiaries/take up
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
- Monitoring/evaluation reports available
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- Recent changes
- Sources