Michael Healy-Rae (Kerry, Independent)
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354. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if he will address the case of person (details supplied) that applied for a springboard course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29860/20]

Simon Harris (Wicklow, Fine Gael)
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The intention of Springboard+ is to enable the upskilling and re-skilling of the labour force in order to meet the identified skills needs.

Eligibility for Springboard+ courses for those in receipt of DEASP benefits is based on their eligibility for those benefits, and is a matter for DEASP.

For returners to the workforce or those in employment, in order to be eligible applicants need to be resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least 3 out of the previous 5 years prior to their entry to the programme.

In the case of applicants who are a non-EU/non-EEA/non-Swiss citizen and who have Stamp 4 or Stamp 4 EU FAM, the period of residency is calculated from the date of receipt of the Stamp 4. Any period of residency in the state before this date will not be taken into consideration.

The Springboard+ initiative is an administrative scheme which is not underpinned by legislation and the residency rule that applies may differ from what is in place in other Government Departments.

The Department does not envisage amending the current terms and conditions that apply to Springboard+. You will appreciate that the terms and conditions that apply to Springboard+ are applicable to all students and that exceptions cannot be made in any particular case.