Springboard+ courses are designed to help you gain the skills necessary to either obtain employment in industry areas where there is an increasing need or to upskill in your current job.
To take a course through Springboard+ you will need to:
When applying for a course through Springboard+ you will also need to apply on the basis of either being:
As places on Springboard+ courses are limited, applicants who are on a qualifying Social Welfare payment will always take priority over others.
Click on a category below to read more about the conditions and requirements for eligibility, including what you will need to do to confirm your status.
If you are currently employed or self-employed and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply to any of the available Springboard+ courses.
If you are applying to a course at level 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), your fees will be covered in full. For courses at levels 7 to 9, you or your employer will need to pay 10% of the course fee.
Working Family Payment
Successful applicants who qualify as “Employed” and if in receipt of the Working Family Payment on course commencement will not be required to pay the 10% course fee contribution
You will need to provide documentation that clearly shows you are either employed or self-employed when you apply for the course and again when you start the course. This can be one of the following:
| Employed | Self-Employed |
|---|---|
| Recent Payslip | Recent document from Revenue confirming self-employment |
| Recent letter from your employer confirming you work for them | Recent letter from your solicitor or accountant confirming your self-employed status |
| Recent letter or statement from Revenue demonstrating your current employment |
If you are not currently working, receiving a qualifying welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection (unless you are formerly self-employed), actively seeking employment, and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply for the majority of available courses. However, you won’t be eligible for any of the 2-year-long courses (i.e. part-time ICT Skills Conversion courses) while in receipt of a Welfare payment.
If you are signing for social insurance contribution credits, you may also be eligible.
If you are formerly self-employed, you do not need to be in receipt of a DSP payment.
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.
If eligible, your fees will be covered in full.
You will need to provide documentation that clearly shows you are either unemployed and in-receipt of a qualifying DSP payment or formerly self-employed when you apply for the course and again when you start the course. This can be one of the following:
| Unemployed | Formerly Self-Employed |
|---|---|
| A recent document from DSP or your local INTREO office confirming you receive a qualifying payment. | A letter/statement from Revenue confirming you are no longer trading or a similar letter from your (former) accountant. |
| A sworn declaration stating you are no longer self-employed. |
If you are a homemaker, on other caring duties, or economically dependent on a partner/spouse for at least 9 of the last 12 months and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply to any of the available Springboard+ courses.
If eligible, your fees will be covered in full.
You will need to download a declaration form and sign it before a Commissioner for Oaths / Peace Commissioner
HCI courses are designed to help you gain the skills necessary to either obtain employment in industry areas where there is an increasing need or to upskill in your current job. HCI offers incentivised places for graduates to reskill in areas of skills shortage and emerging technologies e.g., ICT, High End Manufacturing, Data Analytics, Robotics, Artificial Intelligence, via graduate conversion courses.
To take a course through HCI you will need to:
When applying for a course through Springboard+ you will also need to apply on the basis of either being:
As places on HCI courses are limited, applicants who are on a qualifying Social Welfare payment will always take priority over others.
Click on a category below to read more about the conditions and requirements for eligibility, including what you will need to do to confirm your status.
If you are currently employed or self-employed and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply to any of the available HCI courses. You must also have a level 8 qualification.
If you are applying to a course at level 8, or 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), you or your employer will need to pay 10% of the course fee.
Please also note that (EWSS) replaced the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme on 1st September 2020. The EWSS or TWSS are not eligible Department of Social Protection payments. Those who are in receipt of the wage subsidy are classed as employed and those eligibility criteria apply. Therefore, those in receipt of these payments will be required to pay 10% of the course fee when undertaking courses at Level 8 or above.
You will need to provide documentation that clearly shows you are either employed or self-employed when you apply for the course and again when you start the course. This can be one of the following:
| Employed | Self-Employed |
|---|---|
| Recent Payslip | Recent document from Revenue confirming self-employment |
| Recent letter from your employer confirming you work for them | Recent letter from your solicitor or accountant confirming your self-employed status |
| Recent letter or statement from Revenue demonstrating your current employment |
If you are a recent graduate 2020 or 2021 and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply to any of the available HCI courses. You must also have at a minimum a level 8 qualification.
If you are applying to a course at level 8, or 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications (NFQ), you will need to pay 10% of the course fee.
Please also note that (EWSS) replaced the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme on 1st September 2020. The EWSS or TWSS are not eligible DSP payments. Those who are in receipt of the wage subsidy are classed as employed and those eligibility criteria apply. Therefore, those in receipt of these payments will be required to pay 10% of the course fee when undertaking courses at Level 8 or above.
You will need to provide documentation proving your status when you apply for the course and again when you start the course. This can be one of the following:
| Recent Graduate |
|---|
| Transcript of results |
If you are not currently working, receiving a qualifying welfare payment from the Department of Social Protection (unless you are formerly self-employed), actively seeking employment, and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply for the majority of available courses. However, you won’t be eligible for any of the 2-year-long courses (i.e. full time HCI Skills Conversion courses) while in receipt of a Welfare payment.
Note on Covid -19 Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP)
Covid-19 PUP recipients are eligible to apply for 1-year full time HCI courses but will be required to transfer to the Back To Education Allowance. Time spent on the Covid-19 PUP will satisfy the 9-month requirement to qualify for BTEA.
If you are signing for social insurance contribution credits, you may also be eligible.
If you are formerly self-employed, you do not need to be in receipt of a Department of Social Protection payment.
If eligible, your fees will be covered in full.
Please also note that (EWSS) replaced the Temporary COVID-19 Wage Subsidy Scheme on 1st September 2020. The EWSS or TWSS are not eligible Department of Social Protection payments. Those who are in receipt of the wage subsidy are classed as employed and those eligibility criteria apply. Therefore, those in receipt of these payments will be required to pay 10% of the course fee when undertaking courses at Level 8 or above.
You will need to provide documentation that clearly shows you are either unemployed and in-receipt of a qualifying DSP payment or formerly self-employed when you apply for the course and again when you start the course.
| Unemployed | Formerly Self-Employed |
|---|---|
| A recent document from DSP or your local INTREO office confirming you receive a qualifying payment. | A letter/statement from Revenue confirming you are no longer trading or a similar letter from your (former) accountant. |
| A sworn declaration stating you are no longer self-employed. |
If you are a homemaker, on other caring duties, or economically dependent on a partner/spouse for at least 9 of the last 12 months and you meet the nationality/visa requirements above, you can apply to any of the available HCI Courses.
If eligible, your fees will be covered in full.
You will need to download a declaration form and sign it before a Commissioner for Oaths / Peace Commissioner.
