Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 6 December 2022
439. Deputy Colm Burke asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the actions his Department is taking to entice those who are unemployed to enter the education system and upskill in order to pursue employment thereafter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [60680/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department works proactively with the Department of Social Protection (DSP) to ensure co-ordinated approaches to support jobseekers. The regional Education and Training Boards (ETBs) work closely with INTREO offices and social protection services at national and regional level to ensure unemployed people can access to Further Education and Training (FET). The SOLAS Skills to Compete initiative, introduced in 2020, offers a package of targeted, modularised education and training aimed at supporting re-entry into the workforce. There have been almost 30,000 unique learner enrolments on Skills to Compete programmes across the ETBs to date.
DSP Case officers develop personal progression plans with jobseekers and make referrals to ETB programmes where appropriate. Since the launch of Pathways to Work 2021-2025 in July 2021 to end Q3 2022, some 16,800 people have been referred to FET courses. Of that number, 5,715 have started or completed their FET course.
One of the key commitments in Pathways to Work which my Department is working with DSP to deliver on, is to support 50,000 long-term unemployed people to commence in FET by 2025.
Skillnet Ireland also provides upskilling and reskilling opportunities for unemployed people nationwide through its Skills Connect programme. Over 20 Skillnet Ireland Business Networks participate in the programme offering courses in a wide range of areas, which are expected to support up to 5,000 unemployed people this year.
Within Higher Education, Springboard+ is a targeted initiative that provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling opportunities in areas of identified skills need and supports jobseekers to return to employment. In 2022, a total of 11,682 places on 310 courses were offered under Springboard+ and some 12.45% of those enrolled on these courses were unemployed.
Unemployed participants on FET training courses are paid a training allowance by ETBs based on their DSP payment. Unemployed people are eligible to participate on a free part-time Springboard+ training course, provided they have a previous history of employment; are actively seeking employment and are in receipt of one of the qualifying DSP allowances or are signing-on for credits or were previously self-employed. Those on qualifying DSP allowances can keep their existing social welfare payment if they continue to fulfil the conditions for their payment. If an unemployed applicant on Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance wishes to participate in a one-year fulltime Springboard+ training course, they may be able to qualify for Back to Education Allowance, subject to meeting the eligibility criteria.
