4107. Deputy Naoise Ó Muirí asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the number of courses and places available in the upcoming academic year under Springboard and under the human capital initiative; whether new general areas of skill shortage have been added to the range of courses being offered under these options; the payments to be made by students; and whether participants on these courses can be paid under SUSI or under the back-to-education allowance while participating. [63909/26]

Springboard+ is a targeted initiative which began in 2011 as part of the Government’s Jobs Initiative. Its aim is to provide free and heavily subsidised upskilling and reskilling opportunities through higher education in areas where there is an identified skills need. A particular emphasis of the initiative is upskilling people who are unemployed or in receipt of a social welfare payment, with a view to enhancing their employability and progression in the labour force.

Funding for Springboard+ in the 2026 financial year is secured from the National Training Fund, with €34.4 million allocated. Springboard+ 2026 was launched in March 2026 and will provide 7,274 places across 244 courses delivered by 36 education providers nationwide for the 2026/27 academic year, the majority of which are part-time and flexible. Provision includes courses addressing emerging skills needs, including digital, artificial intelligence, engineering and other areas of strategic importance.

Springboard+ already covers course tuition heavily or completely. If an individual is unemployed, the course is free. Individuals who are employed pay only 10% of the fee for courses at Levels 7, 8, and 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (Level 6 is free). Because fees are already waived or heavily subsidised, additional fee support from SUSI is generally not applicable.

Individuals who wish to take full-time Springboard+ courses are assessed under a bespoke version of the Back to Education Allowance scheme with some changes to eligibility criteria. These include that there is no age requirement, that the qualifying period is 9 months, and that the course may be at a level similar or higher to that already held by the individual.

The 2026 Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy is supporting 3,881 places across 179 micro-credential courses, with learner fees subsidised by 80%. More than half of these courses focus on digital skills, including artificial intelligence, cybersecurity and ICT, and 97% of these courses will be delivered fully online or in blended format. This subsidy is available on identified micro-credentials up until December 2026.

Springboard+ and the Micro-Credential Learner Fee Subsidy are managed by the Higher Education Authority on behalf of my Department. Further information on these schemes including the full range of courses available and the eligibility requirements is available at: www.springboardcourses.ie/.