Back to education scheme rules relaxed

SOCIAL and Family Affairs Minister Seamus Brennan yesterday revealed plans to relax the qualifying rules for back to education allowances for the long-term unemployed.

The change involves a reduction in the time that people must be in receipt of social welfare payments before qualifying for a third-level education scheme.

Under the Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) scheme, unemployed people can go back to education through a weekly payment equivalent to unemployment assistance or benefit of €148.80