Seán Kyne (Galway West, Fine Gael)

I am delighted to raise this issue of importance in my constituency and, I am sure, across the country. It has been raised time and again by a number of my constituents who are affected by it.

Our student grant scheme, which was set out in the Student Support Act 2011 and SI 305/2011 and amended in previous years, has a flaw that has become particularly visible during the present economic problems and employment challenges. This is the stipulation that an applicant must always be progressing to a higher level on the National Qualifications Framework - from level 6, diploma or certificate, to level 7, ordinary degree, to level 8, honours degree, and so forth. These restrictive stipulations are developed in sections 14 to 16 of the statutory instrument. In ordinary circumstances it is entirely understandable that the State would direct its educational assistance resources to encourage deeper and more comprehensive learning. However, we are experiencing a very turbulent time for employment and jobs. Sectors and industries which appeared buoyant four or five years ago are now devoid of employment opportunities. This has very serious ramifications for persons who have put all the investment and effort into obtaining a degree at level 7 or 8 in these areas.

The sensible option is to find another sector with better employment prospects and enrol in a training or educational course. This invariably means undertaking a course at a lower level on the national qualifications framework, such as a diploma or certificate. I have been contacted by many people in Galway who have tried to take this route only to find to their dismay that they are ineligible for a grant or assistance because they have a previous qualification. They are caught in a trap. They are unable to improve their chances of obtaining employment and therefore must remain dependent on the social welfare system.

I acknowledge, and warmly welcome, several initiatives from the Government which have already commenced, chiefly the Springboard initiative and the recently announced ICT conversion courses as part of the new ICT action plan. However, Springboard is not without its problems. There must be greater flexibility in terms of courses offered, the location of courses and the practicality of the courses. For example, a three year course is not much use to somebody who has already spent several years in college or university. They are unemployed now and need targeted, specific, skills-based, short-term education now, not in September or in September 2013.

FÁS is in the process of changing to become SOLAS and this is an ideal opportunity for greater co-operation and innovation between the old FÁS organisation, the universities and the institutes of technology to provide relevant, intensive short-term courses to fill the employment gaps we currently have. In Galway, for example, there are dozens of IT related vacancies which managers are struggling to fill. We, unfortunately, have an unacceptable rate of unemployment but few jobseekers with the required skills, yet when a jobseeker who has a qualification in a different sector attempts to re-skill, he or she cannot because of the progression stipulation in the student grant legislation.

I appeal to the Minister to think more creatively and innovatively on this matter. I accept the financial difficulties facing the education budget and acknowledge that the Minister's task is the most challenging to face a Minister with responsibility for education in recent decades. However, there are some steps we could take. We could, for example, make an allowance for persons attempting to change career direction and re-skill in a designated industry with employment opportunities - a one-off opportunity to re-skill and receive assistance to access a course which will enable entry to a new industry. This would be on top of the Springboard initiative and could encompass a wider range of areas, including IT and second level teaching. We could also examine key areas within sectors, such as software programming, coding and application building and, in conjunction with FÁS, universities such as National University of Ireland Galway, NUIG, and institutes of technology such as Galway-Mayo Institute of Technology, GMIT, offer short, skills-based courses in these areas.

Ultimately, we must change the student grant scheme from its current rigid set-up to having a more flexible, fluid, common-sense approach that is better able to address the challenges of today's job market and meet the needs of jobseekers throughout the country, especially in the Galway area which is of particular concern to me.

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