Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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177. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills her plans to increase the number of courses that are available to those on jobseeker's allowance on the Springboard and Skillnet website. [17070/15]

Dominic Hannigan (Meath East, Labour)
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178. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if participants who are on jobseeker's allowance and who are doing a course through Springboard have to pay to do their examinations; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [17071/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 and 178 together.

Springboard, which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, provides free, flexible reskilling and upskilling opportunities at higher education level for Jobseekers, unemployed and previously self-employed people in areas of emerging skills needs. Participants on Springboard courses do not have to pay tuition or examination fees.

A fifth phase of Springboard is being rolled out in 2015 with the title Springboard+ 2015 to reflect the increased, wide range of course opportunities available. Springboard+ 2015 will be launched in early May and full details of Springboard+ 2015 courses, together with the eligibility criteria, will be available on www.springboardcourses.ie.

In 2014, over 1,300 Skillnets courses were available to job-seekers and it is expected that the same number of courses will be available during 2015. Currently there are approx. 170 courses posted on the Skillnets website for job-seekers.