Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 September 2021
808. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science further to Parliamentary Question No. 1243 of 27 July 2021, the number of places it is anticipated that will be added under each of the programmes (details supplied) of the 50,000 announced under the pathway to work policy document; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [41626/21]
View answerThe additional 50,000 education and training places referred to in Pathways to Work form part of the Government’s response to the labour market and skills effects of the pandemic. A range of measures were introduced as a response to upskilling and reskilling needs of individuals and businesses through the July Jobs Stimulus and Budget 2021. These measures are providing for 35,000 education and training places to help those who were displaced by the effects of the pandemic. A further 15,000 places were announced as part of the skills package in Budget 2021.
In the further education and training sector, these measures are providing for 21,000 places on the Skills to Complete initiative, an additional 8,550 places through Skillnet Ireland supported programmes, 10,000 places allocated to the Apprenticeship Incentivisation scheme, the roll-out of 1,500 retrofit training places across the country, and an additional 1,600 places on the Skills to Advance initiative.
In the higher education sector, these measures are providing for an additional 3,500 Springboard places, 2,500 places in modular programmes in higher education as well as 2,555 post-graduate places under the HCI Pillar 1.
