Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 13 October 2020
323. Deputy Róisín Shortall asked the Minister for Social Protection if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 9 who is in receipt Covid-19 pandemic unemployment payment is eligible to take up a free Springboard course and keep their payment at the same time; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30211/20]
View answerApplicants in receipt of the COVID Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP) who apply for part time or full time springboard courses can retain a weekly social welfare payment if they transfer to a qualifying payment. This will ensure that these Springboard applicants will have an alternative income source on cessation of PUP.
In advance of commencing a course of education, a person in receipt of PUP will be required to establish an entitlement to a qualifying social welfare weekly payment, generally a Jobseeker’s payment.
A person will be required to transfer from PUP to the relevant qualifying social welfare scheme to continue to receive income support while availing of full-time education provision.
The qualification period will be deemed to have been met for a person transferring from PUP. This means someone applying for 2nd or 3rd level will be deemed to have satisfied the required qualification period when they transfer from PUP.
Should the person concerned wish to avail of a Springboard course, she should contact Ballymun Intreo Centre at tel: 01 8940000 or email at Ballmun@welfare.ie to advise them accordingly and to request a transfer of her payment from PUP to the relevant Jobseeker’s payment. Her entitlement to a qualifying Jobseeker’s payment must be established before commencing her course of study.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
