Policy News
Supplementary Budget 2009
Lifelong Learning in the April 2009 Supplementary Budget
The Department of Enterprise, Trade & Employment, Education & Science and the Department of Social & Family Affairs produced a number upskilling and retraining measures for the unemployed. The initiatives are listed below:
The Back to Education Allowance Scheme
The Back to Education Allowance Scheme allows jobseekers who qualify for it to return to education and maintain their welfare payment. Improvements are being made as follows:
- Jobseekers who have been out of formal education for at least 2 years will now be able to access the second level Back To Education Allowance once they have been in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance/Benefit for at least three months (down from six months).
- Earlier access is also being provided to the BTEA third level scheme. Presently, there is a general requirement that a person be receiving a jobseekers payment for 12 months before they can access the scheme. They can access it at nine months if this is recommended by a FÁS Employment Services Officer. This is now being extended so that they will also be able to access it at nine months if this is recommended by one of the Facilitators of the Department of Social and Family Affairs.
New Graduate Placement Scheme
The Department of Social and Family Affairs and Enterprise, Trade and Employment are working together to devise a new graduate placement scheme. It is intended that graduates will be allowed to maintain their social welfare entitlements whilst gaining work experience.
Short Courses
Places on Short Courses provided by FÁS were increased by 51,000 in February, bringing the total to 78,000. Almost a further 14,000 places announced in the Budget brings the total number of training places available to 92,000.
Redundant Apprentices
For redundant apprentices the Budget made provision for an additional 700 places on a new Institutes of Technology training programme, which means that approximately 3,400 redundant apprentices in total will now be able to progress their apprenticeships.
Pilot Training Scheme for Workers on Short Time
A pilot training programme of 277 places is also to be undertaken at a cost of €1 million and is to be introduced for sustaining vulnerable employment. Under this programme workers who are placed on a three-day week and receiving social welfare payments for the days they are not working will receive 2 days training a week for a period of 52 weeks.
Post Leaving Certificate
PLC provision will be expanded by 1,500 places in September 2009
Extra Places at Third Level
- 930 places on short part-time transition courses to facilitate entry to courses starting in September 2009;
- 280 places on accelerated certificate programmes beginning immediately ;
- 2,000 full-time third level
Part Time Third Level Education Places
In conjunction with D/ETE, 1,500 third level places will be provided to enable persons who are unemployed or who are on short time working, to pursue third level certificate or degree programmes at levels 6, 7, and 8 on a part-time basis. The estimated cost is €4 million.
Adult Learners' Festival 2009
On February 6th, the final day of the Adult Learners' Festival, AONTAS organised a Lobby for Learning Day at the National Library. During the event 'I'm an Adult Learner, Invest in Me!', AONTAS launched a snapshot research study based on the experiences of three very different adult learners - the cost of their education as adults and the monetary outcomes of that investment. Click here to read the research.
In addition, the NEAR Media Co-op filmed short soundbites from well known figures in Irish public life, who made a case for investment in adult learning. NEAR also set up a Lobby for Learning Booth at the Library where those attending could make their own case for investment. Video clips will shortly be made available on line in the lead up to the local and European Elections.
Submission to the Integration Unit, Department of Education and Science, on an Intercultural Education Strategy
This submission draws on the outcomes of AONTAS recent conference 'Creating Intercultural Communities', and outlines the rationale and proposals around how adult education can be strengthened to contribute towards interculturalism. To read the submissio in full, click here.
Submission to the Interdepartmental Committee for the Implementation of the National Skills Strategy July 2008
In this submission, AONTAS calls on the goverment to seriously address low levels of participation in adult learning amongst Irish adults and to take measures to remove the barriers. Click here to read the submission.
AONTAS Makes Submission to Government on the Student Support Bill (2008) July 2008
In this submission AONTAS contributes to the debate on the Student Support Bill (2008) which aims to address the support needs of Third Level students, including mature students. AONTAS, as a membership organisation, is well placed to recognise and document the barriers to participation facing adult learners wishing to access educational opportunities at third level. In the submission AONTAS identifies the challenges for this group of adult learners and makes recommendations for amendment to the student support bill (2008) in order to better address these challenges. To read AONTAS' submission in full click here.
Meeting of the Joint Oireachtas Committee on Education and Science
Discussion: New Student Support Bill (2008) 24 April 2008
Supporting Students Who Support Themselves
The Joint Oireachtas Committee on education and Science met yesterday (24th April) to hear presentations from relevant organisations and individuals on the new student support bill (2008). Among those presenting to the committee was AONTAS member and mature student at NUI Maynooth, Stephen Stewart. Stephen called on the Government to amend the new bill to allow adult learners from low income backgrounds to avail of greater financial supports.
In a proposal to Government Stephen outlined the disparity in educational support between mature students from low income backgrounds (on minimum wage) and mature students in receipt of social welfare payments. Mature students on minimum wage (€17,992 p.a.) earn less than mature students in receipt of the maximum social welfare payment (€18,055 p.a.). However, Stephen explained that while social welfare recipients are entitled to financial supports of up to €25,266 per year a mature student who has worked in low paid employment in the year prior to starting a full time course at third level is entitled to only €4,103 per year. Over a three year degree course Stephen has calculated that this leads to a €63,489 disparity in financial supports. "So going to work actually cost me nearly €64,000. At the moment the system penalises those who work. Ultimately people on the same income, no matter what the source, should be treated the same". To view Stephen Stewart's proposal in full click here.
A much needed boost
During questions and answers Vice Chairperson Deputy Ruairi Quinn (Labour) asked Stephen how many people this anomaly affected and how much it might cost the exchequer if the qualifying criteria for Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) were broadened to include low income workers. An approximate figure of €20 million per year would be sufficient to support the 1,000 people (a rough estimate) affected by this inequitable policy. Stephen argued that if mature students from low income backgrounds were permitted to apply for the special rate of maintenance 'top up' grant [The special rate maintenance grant (also known as a 'top up' grant is paid by the Department of Education to social welfare recipients in receipt of the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) and amounts to €3,270 per year. Mature students from low income backgrounds are ineligible for this 'top up'] it would offer a much needed boost to their income. This recommendation, if implemented would cost a fraction of the €20 million estimated to support mature students earning minimum wage. The estimated cost would be €2.3 million; this represents 0.01% of the total budget of €1.9 billion announced by the Minister for Education in Jan 2007.
Stephen is calling on the Department of Education and Science to make an immediate change to the qualifying criteria for the special rate maintenance 'top up' grant to make low income mature students eligible.
Click here to get Stephen's proposal.
Other Presentations to the Committee
Other presentations made to the Joint Committee yesterday came from the Union of Students in Ireland and the Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA). President Hamid Khodabakhshi and Education Officer Peter Mannion outlined the concerns of the USI in relation to the Student Support Bill (2008) including the burden of proof placed on students who are under 23 and wish to be deemed independent of their parents due to estrangement etc. The USI also informed the committee of the annual lobby day, to be held on Wednesday, 30th April. The USI will be focusing on part-time fees for third level students and lobbying for their removal. AONTAS' call to make part-time students eligible for maintenance grants and other supports such as childcare and guidance as well as abolishing fees is supported and echoed by USI in their lobby document.
The HECA called for an amendment of the student support bill which currently disregards students attending courses run by private colleges as eligible for maintenance grants, even if they satisfy the mean test. Senator Healy Eames (FG) supported this request and captured the crux of the argument when she stated that "the grant should follow the student not the college".
AONTAS will continue to lobbying Government in support of Stephen Stewart and all the mature students who find themselves in similar situations having fallen foul of this inequitable and anomalous poverty trap.
Department of Education consults AONTAS on new Student Support Bill
