Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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174. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 641 of 16 January 2017, the further proposals that will be in place for Springboard in September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16174/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Springboard+ is managed by the Higher Education Authority (HEA) on behalf of the Department of Education and Skills. An evaluation framework underpins the initiative with ongoing monitoring of its impact. Springboard+ forms part of the Government’s Action Plan for Jobs, Action Plan for Education and the National Skills Strategy, which aims to increase the number of people in employment to 2.1 million by 2020. The programme is funded through the National Training Fund and the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020.

In January the HEA issued a competitive call, for course proposals in areas of demonstrated skills needs, to be considered for funding under Springboard+ 2018.  The deadline for receipt of proposals was Friday, 9 March. 496 proposals were received, an increase of 76 on last year. 29% of the proposals were in the area of ICT, 26% in Engineering, Manufacturing and Construction, and 22% in Business and Administration. The remainder of the proposals are in areas such as Natural Sciences, Agriculture, Health, and more generic courses. A large number of the proposals feature blended and online learning.

Decisions on proposals for funding are made by a panel of experts with industry and educational experience, supported by the HEA. An independent process auditor oversees the assessment and selection process.

I, along with Minister Halligan expect to have the recommendations of this expert panel shortly, with a launch date of Springboard+ 2018 expected in May/June 2018.