Expand+Applicants must hold a national craft qualification or equivalent qualification in a related area. The Institute’s policy in relation to non-standard applicants also applies.

In order to participate on a Springboard+ course you must meet the elig...

Hide-Applicants must hold a national craft qualification or equivalent qualification in a related area. The Institute’s policy in relation to non-standard applicants also applies.

In order to participate on a Springboard+ course you must meet the eligibility requirements for one of the four categories below and be resident in the state and also hold a valid PPSN.

1. The Unemployed
Be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social Protection:

• Jobseekers Benefit
• Jobseekers Allowance
• One Parent Family
• Disability Allowance
• Qualified Adults of Working Age
• Carers Allowance
• Farm Assist/Fish Assist
• Widow’s, Widower’s or Surviving Civil Partner’s Contributory or Non-contributory Pension
• Blind Pension
• Deserted Wives Allowance

There is no requirement to be in receipt of a payment for a particular period of time prior to the commencement of the programme. Participants in receipt of an eligible payment at the time the Springboard+ course commences are eligible to apply for a place on that course. However, providers will be required to give priority to applications from people who are long term unemployed
OR
Be signing for social insurance contribution credits
OR
Be previously self-employed
AND
Be actively seeking employment

People participating in the Community Employment Scheme; the Rural Social Scheme; Tús or in receipt of the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance or the Short Term Enterprise Allowance may apply for Springboard+ and, with the approval of a Department of Social Protection Case Officer, take up a Springboard+ course.

2. Homemakers
Homemakers are those who are not in receipt of a payment from the Department of Social Protection but have been out of the work environment for a number of years due to childcare or other caring obligations and have a previous history of employment but may require upskilling, reskilling or cross-skilling to transition back to the workforce.

To be eligible the applicant must have been:
• A Homemaker for a minimum period of 12 months prior to their application and

• Ordinarily resident in an EU/EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the fi ve years preceding their entry to the programme

• In addition the applicant will need to provide supporting documentation to support their status as a Homemaker. A form to complete this process is available at www.springboardcourses.ie

It should be noted that acceptance on to a Springboard+ course does not confer any entitlement to DSP payments or childcare supports.

3. Formerly Self-employed
To be eligible those who are formerly selfemployed must provide a letter/statement from Revenue stating that the applicant is no longer trading or a similar letter from the applicants (former) accountant should be sufficient. Alternatively, you can swear a declaration stating that you are no longer self-employed.

4. The Employed
Applicants who are employed will need to meet the residency requirements, i.e. that the applicant has been ordinarily resident in an EU/ EEA/Swiss state for at least three of the five years preceding their entry to the programme.

This category of applicant will also be required to provide a copy of their most recent P60 or other relevant revenue documentation or a letter from their current employer to confirm employment or self-employment.

To participate in a NFQ Level 9 (Post Graduate) course, a period of at least one year must have elapsed since completing a full time undergraduate degree course leading to a major award at level 8 on the NFQ.

For the purposes of determining eligibility for Springboard+ the term unemployed also includes people who are on short term working and in receipt of a Jobseekers payment from the Department of Social Protection.

Further information on Springboard+ parttime courses and Department of Social Protection income support.

Participation on a Springboard+ course will not confer any entitlement to receive an income support payment from the Department of Social Protection. Participants who are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection income support payment may be able to retain such payments.

Through the Part-time Education Option (PTEO), jobseekers in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance who wish to pursue a part-time day or evening course of education may retain their payment subject to continuing to meet the eligibility conditions, including being available for and genuinely seeking work. If a payment is due to cease prior to the end of a course, payment cannot be extended past the due cessation date.

The PTEO will continue to apply when a participant is undertaking a work placement of less than 6 months duration that is a specific component of a Springboard+ course.

Prior to commencing a Springboard+ course participants in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance should contact their local social welfare office to make an application to retain their payment under the PTEO. The relevant Springboard+ PTEO 2017 form can be downloaded at www.springboardcourses.ie. The PTEO scheme does not involve any special payment. Signing-on arrangements continue to apply for PTEO claimants. Attendance on part-time courses is allowed on the clear understanding that availability for and genuinely seeking work opportunities must take precedence over course attendance, including attendance at any work placement component of a course, should a conflict arise.

Participants in receipt of other forms of income support payment from the Department of Social Protection must contact the appropriate scheme area in that Department to confirm if they may retain such payments while on the course. See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on www.springboardcourses.ie for more information.

Expand+Further information on Springboard+ part-time courses and Department of Social Protection income support:
Participation on a Springboard+ course will not confer any entitlement to receive an income support payment from the Department of Social Prot...

Hide-Further information on Springboard+ part-time courses and Department of Social Protection income support:
Participation on a Springboard+ course will not confer any entitlement to receive an income support payment from the Department of Social Protection. Participants who are in receipt of a Department of Social Protection income support payment may be able to retain such payments.

Through the Part-time Education Option (PTEO), jobseekers in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance who wish to pursue a part-time day or evening course of education may retain their payment subject to continuing to meet the eligibility conditions, including being available for and genuinely seeking work. If a payment is due to cease prior to the end of a course, payment cannot be extended past the due cessation date.

The PTEO will continue to apply when a participant is undertaking a work placement of less than 6 months duration that is a specific component of a Springboard+ course.

Prior to commencing a Springboard+ course participants in receipt of Jobseekers Benefit or Jobseekers Allowance should contact their local social welfare office to make an application to retain their payment under the PTEO. The relevant Springboard+ PTEO 2015 form can be downloaded at www.springboardcourses.ie The PTEO scheme does not involve any special payment. Signing-on arrangements continue to apply for PTEO claimants. Attendance on part-time courses is allowed on the clear understanding that availability for and genuinely seeking work opportunities must take precedence over course attendance, including attendance at any work placement component of a course, should a conflict arise.

Participants in receipt of other forms of income support payment from the Department of Social Protection must contact the appropriate scheme area in that Department to confirm if they may retain such payments while on the course. See the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section on www.springboardcourses.ie for more information.

Participants who meet the criteria for the JobBridge programme will be eligible for support under JobBridge. Further information on the JobBridge eligibility criteria is available at www.jobbridge.ie

Expand+This course is designed for persons who had previously worked in the technical national craft area or for those who want to pursue a career in mechanical and electronic (mechatronics) engineering and need to develop their knowledge and skills. The co...

Hide-This course is designed for persons who had previously worked in the technical national craft area or for those who want to pursue a career in mechanical and electronic (mechatronics) engineering and need to develop their knowledge and skills. The course combines the fundamental principles of mechanical engineering technology with knowledge of electrical and electronic circuits to design, develop, test and manufacture electrical and computer-controlled mechanical systems.

The programme is designed as a mechanism to:
• gain employment at a skilled technician grade in a number of companies in the region;

• allow holders of craft qualifications and others with substantial relevant work experience to progress to the level 7 Bachelor of Engineering in Manufacturing and Mechatronics.