Neale Richmond (Dublin Rathdown, Fine Gael)
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319. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will reconsider and allow the self-employed to avail of the free or subsidised third-level courses as included under the Jobs Stimulus; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42557/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Under the July stimulus package an additional funding allocation of €47.5m was provided for Higher Education skills-related programmes to help get people back to work, upskill workers and build economic confidence while continuing to manage the impact of COVID-19.

The higher education elements of the July stimulus package were in three broad areas – further support for Springboard+ and HCI Pillar 1 (€10m), Funding for Postgraduate provision (€22.5m), and the provision of modular courses(€15m).

All courses provided under these initiatives are open to those in employment, which includes the self-employed.

Postgraduate courses are complementary to, but broader than the Springboard+/HCI Pillar 1 offering, and will serve not only the requirements of the new economic model envisaged by the Programme for Government but also specific economic and social needs arising from COVID19. They are fully-funded for returners while employed, including the self-employed, formerly self-employed and recent graduates pay just 10% of the course fee.

The shorter ‘Modular Provision’ courses include courses in science, computing, business and administration. They are fully-funded for unemployed, people on the pandemic unemployment payment (PUP) and returners, while the employed, including self-employed and recent graduates will contribute 10% of the course cost. Eligibility for courses are aligned with Springboard+. Eligible Applicants must be ordinarily resident in Ireland and must meet the nationality and EU residency rules as aligned to Springboard+ Further details can be found on .