Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 246: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if there is any way in which a person who knows that they are going to be made redundant a month before the start of a course under the BlueBrick scheme can access the course under this scheme, even if they do not fulfil the criteria of the course given that they know they will be unemployed when the course starts; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11291/12]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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Question 247: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if a person (details supplied) can be accepted onto a BlueBrick course in view of their circumstances; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [11292/12]

Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 246 and 247 together.

More than 750 places have been provided on 17 higher diploma ICT Skills conversion Programmes 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. Participating institutions will decide their own academic entry requirements. The new 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. Anyone can apply regardless of their social welfare status.

Participation in the programmes will not create any entitlement to receive an income support payment from the Department of Social Protection, or to extend the period of time for which any existing income supports are payable. However, unemployed people who are in receipt of Jobseekers payment (JA/JB) for at least 3 months in the 6 months prior to the commencement of the programmes will be able to retain such payments for the duration of time that an entitlement exists to such a payment.