Ruairi Quinn (Dublin South East, Labour)
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Question 501: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the position in relation to the 2,500 additional third level places announced by his Department; if he will clarify if students will have to pay the €1500 registration fee; the level of FETAC qualifications the courses in this scheme will apply to; if he will clarify if potential students need to have lost their job in the six months before 1 September 2009 or if they need to have been in receipt of jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit from 1 March 2009; if so, if he will confirm if persons made unemployed after 1 March 2009 will have to wait until 2010 to pursue a third level course; if he will confirm that the scheme will be open to persons in receipt of either jobseeker's allowance or jobseeker's benefit; if the scheme will be open to formerly self-employed persons who are now unemployed but do not qualify for social welfare benefits; the way potential students will be able to apply for these additional places; the discount that will be provided to students seeking to study a postgraduate degree which usually incurs a charge; if maintenance grants will be available to successful applicants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [25815/09]

Batt O'Keeffe (Cork North West, Fianna Fail)
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The provision of 2,500 new places on part-time undergraduate and postgraduate courses for people who are unemployed is part of the Government's efforts to retrain and upskill the labour force. 1,500 of the new places will be on a range of undergraduate certificate and degree-level programmes at levels 6 to 8 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ). The remaining 1,000 places will be available for unemployed graduates to undertake part-time postgraduate diplomas or conversion programmes at levels 8 to 9 on the NFQ. All 2,500 places will be on courses that support the goals of the Government's "Smart Economy" plan and particularly those relating to specific skills needs of exporting sectors identified by the Expert Group on Future Skills Needs.

Details of the third level institutions providing these places and information on how to apply for a place will be announced in the coming weeks. The information will also be made available through local FÁS and Department of Social and Family Affairs offices. The scheme will be open to people who have been on the Live Register for at least six months on 1 September 2009, or who have been awarded Statutory redundancy and have an entitlement to a relevant social welfare payment. One of the conditions for people participating on these new part-time places is that they continue to be available and seeking work. Once they satisfy these conditions they will be entitled to retain their social welfare payments. Where they receive an offer of full-time work they must take up this offer of employment. Tuition fees will not be charged for these courses, though postgraduate students may be required to pay a small charge. Students will not be required to pay the €1,500 registration fee. The Student Maintenance Grant Scheme does not cover part time courses.

It is open to unemployed people who do not meet the eligibility criteria for this scheme to apply for third level courses through the CAO. While the initial CAO closing date is 1 February, with late applications accepted up to 1 May, on 2 July next 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. A further opportunity will be available for people to apply for places on such courses from 18 August 2009.

Unemployed people on full-time third level programmes may be eligible for support under this Department's Student Maintenance Grant Scheme. Provision of grants is subject to a means test and other eligibility criteria. Further information on how to apply for a student maintenance grant is available on the Student Finance website: www.studentfinance.ie.

In addition, unemployed people who secure a place on a full-time undergraduate programme may be eligible to participate in the Department of Social and Family Affairs Back to Education Allowance Scheme. Under this scheme, unemployed people in full time education receive a Back to Education allowance which is equivalent to the maximum personal rate of the Job Seekers Allowance. Recipients also receive a Cost of Education allowance of €500 per annum.