Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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386. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will indicate eligibility for social welfare payment in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Kildare who is undertaking a Springboard internship at present and receiving no payment; if she will outline the reason top up payment is available on the JobBridge scheme but not the Springboard scheme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31139/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The person concerned is undertaking an education course under the Springboard Initiative. Springboard is a programme under the remit of the Department of Education and Skills. It offers a choice of 171 free, part-time and intensive conversion courses in higher education from certificate, to degree, to post-graduate level. Springboard participants receive the rate of payment they were in receipt of prior to the commencement of their course whilst an entitlement continues to exist. In this case the person concerned was in receipt of a jobseeker benefit payment, which then exhausted during her participation on the Springboard course. The person concerned is now signing for credits.

JobBridge provides the opportunity to gain valuable experience in a working environment for those looking to explore or gain the relevant knowledge and skills required to enter into a particular career field. Participants are paid in recognition of their participation on the scheme.