'Upskilling' plan draws huge response

A NEW plan allowing recently unemployed people to go to college to retrain has drawn a huge response.

There were over 8,000 visits to the website set up to process applications for 5,900 college places in the two days after it was launched this week.

Courses leading to qualifications ranging from certificate to master's degree are available under the Higher Education Authority's (HEA) Springboard programme.

The scheme is part of the Government's Jobs Initiative and is targeted at those who were previously working but lost their jobs and who, with some upskilling, could fill current or future job shortages.

Irish Independent