Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 June 2021
183. Deputy Fergus O'Dowd asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science if concerns raised by a person (details supplied) in respect of Springboard funding will receive a response; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33628/21]
Amharc ar fhreagraSpringboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free or 90% funded upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. The initiative’s primary target group when it was established was unemployed people with a previous history of employment. Over recent years the focus was changed to include more people in employment and those returning to the workforce.
Priority for courses will be given to applicants who are long-term unemployed and to those who have not taken a Springboard+ course before. Applicants who have taken more than three courses in any five-year period, will not be eligible. There is a two year waiting period before they can apply to take a Springboard+ programme again. Further information on eligibility can be found on www.springboardcourses.ie/faq.
All courses under Springboard+ were selected by an independent panel with experts from industry and education following a competitive tendering process, which is overseen by a process auditor. As there is a limited funding envelope, not all courses can be funded. There was a very strong response from higher education providers this year with almost 800 submissions, an increase of 38% on 2020, and the independent panel noted the particularly high quality of the submissions this year. It should be noted that the call document particularly highlights that, as programmes are evaluated each year based on the application material provided, there should not be an expectation that programmes funded in previous years will automatically receive funding again.
