Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Education and Skills, further to the Adjournment debate of 25 May 2011, if he will consider facilitating the completion of the BA course in All Hallows, Dublin by the group of former employees from a company (details supplied) through the Springboard initiative; if he will accept that the group when beginning the four year course had a reasonable expectation that there would be funding to complete the course when the globalisation fund expired; and if he will consider this course as part of the free fees scheme until the group have completed their degrees. [13845/11]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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The co-funding of relevant education and training measures through the European Globalisation Adjustment Fund (EGF) in support of redundant SR Technics workers is strictly time limited to finish on 9 October 2011. This end date is determined at two years from the date of application, in accordance with the regulations governing the operation of the fund, and cannot be extended. This position has always been made clear to service providers and to beneficiaries of EGF support, including the former SR Technics staff in question.

It was also therefore always clear to the former SR Technics workers that the full duration of the course would not be funded by the State and that funding would end before accreditation was achieved. On the question of alternative funding, officials from my Department met a delegation of the former workers last month and discussed in detail the position in relation to EGF funding and the full range of options and supports that are available to students generally, including former SR Technics staff, who wish to pursue education programmes in the publicly funded higher education system. I have written to a member of the delegation re-emphasising the position as outlined.

The closing date for submission of proposals for funding under the Springboard initiative was 18 March 2011. The results of the selection process were announced on 25 May 2011. Funding was available under Springboard for higher education programmes delivered on a part-time basis. The Department of Social Protection has already confirmed that if the students remain on the programme on a full-time basis beyond the EGF cut-off date, that will be entitled to retain their Back to Education Allowance. This would be a considerable advantage to the students in terms of providing income support while progressing in education. It should also be noted that All Hallows College has been extremely helpful in running what was originally a part-time course on a full-time basis under the EGF programme in order to accelerate students' progress on a modular basis and maximise the scope for them to benefit from the EU funding available.

It is open to the students to engage with All Hallows College to seek a reduced course fee for continuance of the course full-time but at their own expense. Alternatively, the relevant students could potentially transfer to other full-time courses in the public system which are part of the Free Fees Scheme without losing their Back to Education Allowance. The accreditation of learning gained at All Hallows College prior to any such transfer is a matter for the college in conjunction with the Higher Education Authority.