Aengus Ó Snodaigh (Dublin South Central, Sinn Fein)

If someone is unemployed in February, most of the third level opportunities start in September. That is a problem because we are then asking those people to spend another 12 months on the dole. Can that nine month figure be reduced to five months or can the criteria be totally changed so a full assessment is done?

Many people have achieved level 8, the highest a person can go, and were previously employed but now need to do another level 8 course but they are not allowed to do an equivalent. They are not going higher, they are changing tack, particularly those who have been in employment for a long time. Those aged 40 or 50, or even younger, who wish to transfer to a totally different career should be able to achieve the equivalent level.

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