Tommy Broughan (Dublin Bay North, Independent)
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113. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills further to Parliamentary Question No. 641 of 16 January 2018, the further plans that will be in place for Springboard in September 2018; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [22638/18]

Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
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Springboard+ 2018, which was launched in May, will provide for over 8,000 places on 245 higher education courses.  Courses will be delivered in public and private educational institutions throughout Ireland in the following skills areas: ICT, Engineering, Manufacturing, Construction, Hospitality, Business, Administration, Law, Entrepreneurship, Animation, Medical Devices Decontamination and certain other manufacturing related services courses.  There are 12 courses being offered in the area of Construction, offering over 300 places.

Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ).  Courses selected for funding are in areas of identified enterprise skills needs and were selected, following a competitive call for proposals, by an independent evaluation panel using published criteria that included value for money, flexible delivery, engagement with industry and skills relevance. All courses provide job-readiness training and most offer the opportunity for work placement, project-based learning or industry site visits where appropriate.

The Deputy may wish to note that the eligibility criteria for Springboard+ 2018 has been extended to include the following:

- Free higher education courses for unemployed people

- Free higher education courses for previously self-employed people

- Free higher education courses for those returning to work

- Free Level 6, higher education courses for those in employment

- For employed participants on courses NFQ level 7 - 9, 90% of the course fee will be funded by the Government, with participants required to contribute just 10% of the fee.

Further information on Springboard+ 2018 including entry requirements and eligibility criteria are available on the dedicated information and applications website: www.springboardcourses.ie.