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For Written Answer on : 30/09/2021
Question Number(s): 281 Question Reference(s): 47317/21
Department: Social Protection
Asked by: David Stanton T.D.
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QUESTION
To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to include illness benefit as one of the qualifying payments for a springboard+ course; and if she will make a statement on the matter.
REPLY
Springboard+ provides free higher education courses for people who are unemployed or were self-employed and those looking to return to the workforce. The Springboard initiative can be approved for Jobseekers and those on other qualifying social welfare schemes who are actively seeking work and available to take up work. Illness Benefit is a scheme to support an individual who is unable to work in the short term because they are sick or ill. Illness benefit is not therefore a qualifying payment under the Initiative and there are no plans to amend this policy at this time.
I trust this clarifies the matter.
