AONTAS Director disappointed at Hanafin decision not to revise grant criteria
16 May 2008 04:31 PM
Today, Berni Brady, AONTAS Director supported calls by Fine Gael Social and Family Affairs spokesperson Olwyn Enright TD for new Minister for Social and Family Affairs Mary Hanafin to take immediate action to revise the criteria for the Back to Education Allowance. When pressed on the issue by Deputy Enright in a parliamentary question yesterday, the Minister refused to consider changing the existing criteria, which penalise low income workers who want to pursue a third level education. The scheme currently provides financial support for people on a social welfare payment who want to return to education. Qualifying for the Back to Education Allowance may also provide access to additional financial support such as the Top Up Grant.
According to Ms Brady 'AONTAS has had many discussions with the Education spokespersons in government and opposition about the criteria for the scheme. However, in her response to Deputy Enright's questions yesterday, the Minister seems to have missed the point entirely, by stating that 'people on low incomes who qualify for third levels grants would probably qualify for the top-up grant as well'. This is quite simply not the case - you have to qualify for the Back to Education Allowance in the first place in order to get the top-up grant. This system means that even if you are on the minimum wage you get very little support from the state. It is extremely unfair.'
AONTAS member Stephen Stewart put together a research proposal outlining the financial implications of further education when an adult does not qualify for the BTEA. Stephen recently gave a presentation to the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science about his experience as a low income worker who didn't qualify for the scheme.
'As a new InterDepartmental Committee for the Implementation of the National Skills Strategy begins to review incentives to encourage adults, particularly those who are on low incomes, back into education, the Minister has missed a real opportunity here to make further education more accessible' Ms Brady concluded.
ENDS
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Notes to Editor
1. The Back to Education Allowance is a financial support allowing people in receipt of certain social welfare payments to retain those payments whilst participating in approved full-time courses in further and higher education. Approved programmes range from foundation courses to postgraduate courses. Participants receive a standard rate of payment that is not means-tested. It is administered by the Department of Social Community and Family Affairs.
2. AONTAS is the National Adult Learning Organisation. AONTAS is a non-government membership organisation, established in 1969. The organisation's mission is to ensure that every adult in Ireland has access to appropriate and affordable learning opportunities throughout their lives, thus enabling them to contribute to and participate in the economic, social, civic and cultural development of Irish society. AONTAS is a registered charity and a company limited by guarantee. AONTAS represents over 600 members, ranging from statutory providers of adult education, such as VECs and third level institutions, to voluntary providers of community education, to individual adult learners and those with a general interest in adult education. The role of AONTAS is to work towards improving the adult education sector in Ireland through policy development, promoting the benefits of adult education and research.
