Shane McEntee (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 439: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if information on the way to access further and higher education courses as outlined in the supplementary budget 2007, annex F has been published (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [18824/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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Annex F (1.3.2) Extra places at Third Level: The newly developed accelerated Level 6 certificate programmes and the part time transition programmes in the Institutes of Technology have been targeted specifically at unemployed people. The Institutes have worked directly with local FÁS and Department of Social and Family Affairs offices both in terms of marketing the courses and advising participants of their entitlements in relation to social welfare payments. It is anticipated that in the order of 1,000 unemployed people will have completed these courses by July and it is hoped that a significant number of these students will be encouraged to progress to other higher education certificate or degree programmes in the Autumn. The scope to further develop these initiatives and to identify other appropriate responses by the third level institutions to address the up-skilling needs of the unemployed is being examined by the Higher Education Labour Market Response Group which I have asked the HEA to establish and which will report to me by the end of June.

It is expected that at least 2,000 unemployed people will be accommodated on full time third level courses starting this autumn. Overall applications through the CAO this year show an increase of 8.5% on last year while applications by mature students showed an increase of 19% on 2008. These figures are likely to reflect the fact that a number of unemployed people have already applied for entry to third level courses commencing this Autumn. On 2 July the CAO will publish details of its available place courses where places are likely to be available following the first round of CAO offers in August and a further opportunity will be available for people to apply for places on such courses from 18 August 2009. Annex F (1.3.5) Part-Time Third Level Education Places: 1,500 part time third level places will be provided to enable persons who are unemployed to pursue third level certificate or degree programmes on a part time basis. Arrangements for the operation of this initiative are being finalised by officials of my Department and the Department of Enterprise, Trade and Employment, with a view to implementation from September 2009. Further information on how to access these courses will be made available as soon as these arrangements are finalised. It is expected that information on the courses will also be made available to unemployed people though local FÁS and Department of Social and Family Affairs Offices.