James Browne (Wexford, Fianna Fail)
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311. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills his plans to address the springboard+ initiative's lack of consideration for areas with high unemployment, as referenced in the south-east economic monitor; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34406/17]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Springboard+, which incorporates the ICT skills conversion programme, strategically targets funding of free higher education places for unemployed and previously self-employed people, in sectors where there are identified skills shortages or employment opportunities. Springboard+ courses are delivered in public and private Higher Education Institutions throughout the country. In addition, many courses are delivered on-line enabling people to access them regardless of where they reside in the country.

Courses approved for funding under Springboard+ are selected by an independent panel with representatives from industry and education following a competitive call for proposals. The evaluation panel selecting the courses use rigorous criteria of quality, industry skills needs relevance, value for money as well as the need for a good geographical spread.

Under Springboard+ 2017, the eligibility criteria has been expanded to include homemakers and those in employment or self-employment who wish to upskill, reskill or cross skill in the Biopharma/Med Tech sector and those in employment, or self-employment in the ICT sector who wish to upskill from a level 7 to a level 8 qualification.

Springboard+ 2017 will provide for 6,471 free places on 198 courses.  Courses will be delivered in all of the Universities and Institutes of Technology and in 19 private higher education providers and one College of Further Education. 57% of the approved Springboard+ 2017 courses will be delivered in areas outside of Dublin.

To date over €134m has been allocated to Springboard+ providing for over 35,000 places.