Rose Conway-Walsh (Mayo, Sinn Fein)
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542. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of Springboard places opened in the 2021-2022 academic year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [27863/22]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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Springboard+ complements the core State-funded education and training system and provides free and subsidised upskilling and reskilling higher education opportunities in areas of identified skills need. Springboard+ courses are at Level 6 (Certificate) to Level 9 (Masters) on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ) and are delivered by public and private higher education providers around the country.

Now entering its twelfth year, over €330m has been spent on Springboard+ and over 90,000 people have benefited from the programme to date. The Springboard+ programme is managed by the Higher Education Authority, on behalf of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science.

Springboard+ 2021 provided 12,743 places on 330 courses, As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, this leads to a combined total of 14,947 places in 408 courses available in the 2021/22 academic year under Springboard+ 2021 and HCI Pillar 1. 

Springboard+ 2022 was launched on 25th May 2022, providing 10,697 places on 275 courses. As a result of multi-annual funding of graduate conversion courses, this leads to a combined total of 13,928 places in 392 courses available in the 2022/23 academic year under Springboard+ 2022 and HCI Pillar 1. 

Courses available are in areas of identified skills need including but not limited to ICT, sustainable development, construction and design from Level 6 to Level 9 on the NFQ.

We are living in rapidly changing times. The rate of technological advances, the impacts of climate change and global health issues are transforming how we live at an incessant rate. Springboard+ and the Human Capital Initiative can help equip future generations with the knowledge and skills to navigate the 21st century.