Peadar Tóibín
Ceist:228 Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Education and Skills the cost of waiving all fees associated with higher and third level education for the long term unemployed. [21381/12]
Amharc ar fhreagraTuesday, 1 May 2012
Ceisteanna (168)
Freagraí scríofa
Under the terms of my Department's free fees scheme the Exchequer meets the cost of tuition fees in respect of eligible first-time undergraduate students who are pursuing full-time undergraduate courses of study which are a minimum of two years duration in an approved institution. Students who are entitled to free fees must pay a student contribution charge to their higher education institution.
Under my Department's student grant scheme, eligible candidates may receive funding provided they are attending an approved course at an approved institution as defined in the relevant scheme. Students who are entering approved courses for the first time are eligible for financial assistance where they satisfy the relevant conditions including those relating to residence, means, nationality and previous academic attainment. Students qualifying for a grant will also have their fees and/or student contribution paid on their behalf.
Springboard is a specific initiative to provide free part time higher education places 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. Since it was launched in May 2011 almost 5,000 unemployed people have been supported to undertake higher education courses under the Springboard programme. The roll out of Springboard 2012 is now underway and a new range of Springboard courses will be launched in the coming weeks.
In addition, as one of the measures included in the joint Government-Industry ICT Action Plan to boost the domestic supply of ICT graduates for Irish employment opportunities, more than 760 free places have been provided on 17 new graduate skills conversion programmes. The programmes are targeted at jobseekers who would have the capacity and underlying aptitude, as well as an honours degree in a cognate discipline, to undergo an intensive programme of study and work experience to acquire honours degree level ICT programming skills. Further details of the Springboard and ICT Skills Conversion programmes are available on www.bluebrick.ie.