| Financial Support | Details |
|---|---|
| Social Welfare Payment (BTEA) | If you are unemployed, parenting alone or have a disability and you are getting certain payments from the Department of Social Protection, you may take part in a second or third-level education course and get a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA). The maximum rate of BTEA will increase by €5 per week in 2017. From September 2017, the maximum rate of BTEA will increase to €193 per week for jobseekers aged under 26. Also in September 2017, a new €500 annual Cost of Education Allowance will be made available to BTEA participants with children. The following link provides information regarding eligibility for this payment – http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/social_welfare/social_welfare_payments/back_to_education/back_to_education_allowance.html |
| Student Grant | In general, if you are in receipt of a social welfare payment you are NOT eligible to apply for a maintenance grant, however, there are exceptions for those on a disability or one parent family social welfare payment. Please visit the student grant information website www.susi.ie or http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/third_level_education/fees_and_supports_for_third_level_education/maintenance_grant_schemes_for_students_on_third_level_courses.html for further information. |
| Government Levy (Participant Contribution Charge) | A participant contribution of €200 per year is charged for Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. You do not have to pay the participant contribution if: You hold a full medical card in your own right You are the dependent child of a full medical card holder You are eligible for a student grant You are getting Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/education/vocational_education_and_training/post_leaving_certificate_courses.html |
| General Student Charges | These could include fees relating to registration/ administration/ examinations/ materials/ uniforms etc. Many PLC courses have additional fees and these vary depending on the type of course e.g. the fee for the first year of a hairdressing course is €1211 (this includes the €200 participant contribution charge). Participants have to pay these fees regardless of whether they are or not in receipt of a Social Welfare payment. |
| Personal Microcredit Scheme | This is a new pilot scheme http://www.citizensinformation.ie/en/money_and_tax/personal_finance/loans_and_credit/microcredit_loans.html. It Makes Sense Loans are available to people in receipt of social welfare. Loan repayments are made from deductions each week from your social welfare payment. Wexford Credit Union is involved in this scheme – www.wexfordcreditunion.ie |
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