Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of training and educational supports to assist people to develop their skills to regain employment. The Training Support Grant provides quick access to short-term training to support jobseekers access work opportunities. The grant is used to meet a skills gap or training need where this cannot be provided by a state provider within a reasonable time, and in cases where an intervention is needed to access a work opportunity. Courses up to and including QQI Level 6 can be covered by the scheme.

During 2023, some 6,200 jobseekers completed training with the support of the Training Support Grant. The Government has provided €2.7 million for the scheme in 2024.

Supports are already in place where a jobseeker is interested in returning to education to take a full-time course above Level 6 on the QQI. They may be eligible for support through the Back to Education Allowance scheme subject to meeting the conditions of the scheme.

Under the Back to Education Allowance, jobseekers can be supported to take undergraduate courses up to honours degree level. At the postgraduate level, Back to Education Allowance may be approved to undertake studies leading to a Higher Diploma in any discipline and the Professional Masters in Education. The Back to Education Allowance scheme also supports students who participate on courses provided through the Government’s Springboard+ and Human Capital Initiative.

Any person seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre. The Employment Services team provides help and advice on employment, training and personal development opportunities, with a focus on individual customer needs to help them enter the workforce.

I trust this clarifies the position.

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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My Department provides a range of supports to assist recipients of income support payments to develop their skills to regain employment.

The Part-Time Education Option enables jobseekers to retain their Jobseeker's payment while undertaking a part-time course of study, provided that they continue to satisfy the conditions of being available for and genuinely seeking full time employment on an on-going basis.

Any person in receipt of a jobseeker's payment seeking to return to education should engage with their local Intreo Centre to assess their options.

The Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science has policy responsibility for the further and higher education sectors and the development of supports for both full-time and part-time students.

I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.