Richard Bruton (Dublin Bay North, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

198. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the changes in the eligibility criteria for Springboard opportunities for support for postgraduate participation. [29256/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides recent graduates with either free or 90% funded upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need.

One-year full-time and two-year part-time ICT Skills Conversion courses, which are funded through Springboard+, are open to the unemployed, returners to the workforce, the unemployed and recent graduates.

HCI Pillar 1, Graduate Conversion Programmes extends the approach currently in place for ICT under Springboard+, offering full time, one year incentivised places for graduates to reskill in areas of skills shortage and emerging technologies.

Places are available on courses in a wide range of skills areas, including artificial intelligence, smart factory technology, sustainable energy, medical device technology and cybersecurity.

The July Stimulus will also provide funding for Postgraduate Skills Provision and Modular Skills Provision. Details of programmes will be released in the coming weeks.

Further information on Springboard+ 2020 and HCI including entry requirements and detailed eligibility criteria are available on the dedicated information and applications website:www.springboardcourses.ie