Skillnets
Skillnets funds the Job Seekers Support Programme
(JSSP) which is for unemployed people. It combines
training with work placement.
For more information, log on to www.skillnets.ie.
Springboard
This higher education initiative offers you a choice of
full-time or part-time courses including certificates,
degrees, post-graduate and masters programmes.
Springboard offers courses in sectors such as
Information and Communications Technology (ICT),
the Medical Devices Sector, Bio-Pharma,
Pharmachem, Green Energy and other sectors.
For more information on Springboard, log on to www.springboardcourses.ie
Approved Training Course
Places on approved training courses (Education and
Training Boards (ETB)) are open to all.
If you are receiving a payment and you apply for a
place on an approved training course, you will receive
a training allowance from the training authority for
the period of the course.
You can also avail of an approved training course if
you are signing for credits, however, no training
allowance is payable to customers signing for credits
only. Part-time or full-time courses help to develop
your skills and knowledge in a wide range of areas.
Part-Time Education Option (PTEO)
The Part-Time Education Option allows you to keep
your Jobseeker’s Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit
while you attend a part-time day, evening or distance
course of education or training.
You must request approval before commencing the
course from your local Intreo Centre or your local
Branch Office.
To approve the course the Deciding Officer must be
satisfied that the course is likely to improve your
chances of getting a job.
Back to Education (BTE) Programme
This programme supports you to take part in
educational and personal development courses (at
second or third level) that will help you to find a job.
To qualify you must:
- have been accepted onto a qualifying course,
- in general, be over 21 years of age,
- for certain post-graduate courses, be 24
years of age,
- be receiving certain social welfare payments.
There are five BTE programmes and these are
outlined below:
1. Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)
This programme supports you to take part in full-time
educational courses (at second or third level) in order
to gain qualifications that will help you to find a job.
To qualify you must be:
- recommended by a Case Officer,
- accepted onto a qualifying course,
- over 21 years of age,
or
- aged between 18 and 21 years and out of
formal education for at least 2 years,
or
- over 24 years of age for certain post-graduate
courses,
- receiving certain social welfare payments,
and
- be working towards a qualification on an approved
course.
2. Second-Level Option
You can attend a second-level course of education at
any secondary, community, comprehensive or
vocational school. The course must be full-time and
lead to a certificate recognised by the Department of
Education and Skills or approved by Quality and
Qualifications Ireland (QQI), for example, Junior
Certificate, Leaving Certificate, Post-Leaving
Certificate or an Access/Foundation course.
3. Third-Level Option
You can attend a third-level course at any university,
third-level college or institution in Ireland or Northern
Ireland, so long as the course is a full-time day course
and is approved by the Department of Education and
Skills for a student grant and/or is recognised by
Quality and Qualifications Ireland (QQI).
4. Post-Graduate Option
This option is only for customers aged 24 and over
who wish to take a post-graduate course of study that
leads to a Higher Diploma (H Dip) qualification in any
discipline, or a Professional Masters of Education
(PME) only.
To apply for the Post-Graduate Option, the applicant
must be in receipt of a qualifying social welfare
payment for 9 months (234 days) and in the case of a
Professional Masters of Education (PME) must be in
receipt of a qualifying payment for 12 months (312
days).
Only post-graduate courses in Ireland are eligible for
the BTEA.
5. Education, Training & Development Option
Under the Education, Training and Development
Option, you may continue to get your Jobseeker’s
Allowance or Jobseeker’s Benefit while attending
certain courses of education, training or development
so long as you meet certain conditions.
You must request approval before commencing the
course from your Case Officer in your local Intreo
Centre or your local Branch Office.