Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:225 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the operating costs of the Springboard programme over the past four years and the operating budget for this year. [21378/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 May 2012
Ceisteanna (165, 166, 167)
Freagraí scríofa
Springboard was first launched in May 2011. During 2011, payments totalling €8.7 million were made to providers. For 2012 funding of €8 million has been allocated to meet the carry over costs of Springboard 2011 programmes. The provision of €10 million from the National Training Fund to support the further roll-out of Springboard in 2012 was also announced as part of Budget 2012. A new range of courses will be launched under Springboard 2012 in the coming weeks.
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:226 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills if his attention has been drawn to the issues faced by a number of highly qualified immigrants struggling to find employment; if he will outline any consideration given to amending the criteria for Springboard to include those not in work who cannot access jobseeker’s allowance benefit and single parent benefit. [21379/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Springboard initiative is targeted at unemployed people who have lost their jobs as a result of the recession and who would benefit from upskilling or reskilling in order to get back into sustainable employment. A new range of Springboard courses for 2012 will be launched in the coming weeks. The eligibility criteria for access to the new round of courses is being informed by an evaluation of the first phase of the initiative. Further details will be available when the courses are launched.
Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:227 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of extending the Springboard scheme to cover the needs of graduates that are currently long term unemployed. [21380/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraIt is already open to unemployed graduates to apply for courses funded under the Springboard programme. A first stage process evaluation of Springboard, which was published by the HEA in February 2012, shows that 53.5% of Springboard participants had either an ordinary level or honours degree and almost 17% had a postgraduate qualification.