Fine Gael TD, for Limerick, Patrick O’Donovan, has welcomed the announcement that the Government is making 6,000 extra part-time high education places available through the Springboard programme, which is aimed at helping jobseekers to reskill and get back to work.
“These 6,000 extra places are across 200 different courses in 38 Institutes of Technology, universities and other colleges across the country, including a number of courses at the University of Limerick and the Limerick Institute of Technology. These courses are specifically tailored to meet the demands of the economy and include disciplines such as IT, communications, international languages and financial services.”
“Over the last year, more than 2,000 jobseekers have gone back into employment after completing a Springboard course. A further 3,000 will complete courses this month. Ireland’s economy is in a transition phase moving from the old, failed model based on construction and debt, to a new sustainable economy based on enterprise and innovation. The Springboard programme is providing a pipeline of job-ready graduates, with up-to-date skills matched to the sectors of the economy which are expanding.”
“Crucially, Springboard is also helping those who lost their jobs during the downturn to adapt their skills to the changing needs of our new emerging economy. Ten thousand places have been made available to date, representing an investment of €23 million by the Department of Education and Skills. Courses are free, part-time, and are at certificate, degree and postgraduate level.”
“As we continue to get our economy back on track, we must ensure our graduates are equipped with the right skills to take advantage of emerging opportunities. As well as tailored course content, more than 80% of Springboard courses include work placements, providing valuable experience and access to the workplace.”
“Helping people who are out of work to upskill is a key part of the Government’s strategy to tackle the unemployment crisis. As well as Springboard, a range of other initiatives are in place, including Momentum, which is providing free training and education for the long-term unemployed; the ICT conversion programme, which is a high intensity programme aimed at graduates; and JobBridge, which helps unemployed people to access the workplace through internship programmes.”
“By taking a much more tailored approach to education and training, we can ensure our graduates and re-skilled jobseekers are equipped with the best possible tools to access full-time employment.”