I welcome the announcement by Minister Ruairi Quinn that an additional 6,000 free part-time higher education places are being made available under the Springboard programme to provide re-training opportunities to jobseekers.
Alex White TD has welcomed the announcement by Minister Ruairi Quinn that an additional 6,000 free part-time higher education places are being made available under the Springboard programme to provide re-training opportunities to jobseekers.
Speaking about the €23 million investment by the Department of Education and Skills, Alex White TD said:
“There will be 3,525 new Springboard programme places in Dublin, with a total of 6,000 places nationally. 85 free Springboard courses will be provided in Dublin and will be directly accessible to Dublin South jobseekers. Institutions providing the Springboard training programmes include the Dublin Institute of Technology, the Dun Laoghaire Institute of Art, Design and Technology, the Dublin Business School, the National College of Ireland, IBAT College Dublin and the Digital Skills Academy.
“I welcome the fact that over 80% of these courses will provide a work placement for participants, meaning that people are getting hands-on experience as well as academic qualifications.
“Despite the unemployment problem in Ireland and in Dublin South, there are industries in Ireland such as the ICT sector where underemployment is an issue. Springboard will address this skills shortage by giving jobseekers the re-training they need to find employment in these growing industries.
“The Springboard qualifications will concentrate on growth areas such as Information Technology, Communications, International Languages and International Financial Services.”
Over 2,000 job seekers have successfully returned to work in the past year on completion of a Springboard course. Courses are free, part-time, and are at certificate, degree and postgraduate level.
To be eligible for a place on a Springboard course a person must be unemployed, actively seeking employment, and be in receipt of one of the qualifying Department of Social Protection payments or be signing for credits or be previously self employed. There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme. However, providers will be required to give priority to applications from people who are long term unemployed.
Applications can now be made on www.springboardcourses.ie A freephone Guidance line 1800 303 523 is available to offer advice on course choices and applications.
Opening Address at the EU CELAC Co-ordination and Co-operation Mechanism on Drugs
I am delighted to have the honour to address you today as co-chairperson of this 15th High Level Meeting of the EU CELAC Co-ordination and Co-operation Mechanism on Drugs.
It is a particular pleasure to be here in the beautiful city of Quito, one of the first UNESCO World Heritage Sites.
I look forward to our interactions over the next few days and to learning more about Ecuador, and about Latin America and the Caribbean.
Minister of State, Alex White TD has welcomed the Government announcement that the Divine Word National School in Marley Grange and the Islamic National School in Clonskeagh will have their prefab classrooms replaced by permanent classrooms. The investment in Dublin South primary schools was announced today by Minister for Education and Skills, Ruairi Quinn.
TD for Dublin South Alex White said, “I’m delighted by this news as it means that children and teachers in Marley Grange and Clonskeagh will have better conditions to learn and work in. Our children deserve the best facilities and this Government is committed to seeing prefabs phased out of our school system by 2014.
“As well as improving our schools, vital jobs in construction will be created as a result of this investment in education. €15 million has been allocated for 2013 and 2014 in order to replace 115 prefab classrooms nationally.
“The initial prefab replacement initiative announced last year was very successful and has provided for the replacement of 458 prefabs.
“This welcome announcement comes only days after the approval of a major school extension for the Sancta Maria College in Rathfarnham as part of the €150m stimulus package announced by my Labour colleague, Minister Brendan Howlin.”
