Parliamentary Question to the Minister for Education and Skills

To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the average cost to provide a springboard course per person per year; the average cost of a FÁS student per year to the Exchequer; and if he will make a statement on the matter.
 

Minister of State, Ciarán Cannon

The cost of providing either a Springboard or FÁS course varies according to the duration, nature of course, and level of award, and in the case of FÁS, on the level of any trainee allowance payable.

The average cost of a Springboard course is calculated with reference to the cost for ten credits of any particular course. Credits form part of the European Credit Transfer System, a European-wide system for quantifying the   content and scope of a higher education and training course. The overall average cost of a Springboard 2011 course per student per 10 credits of any   course is €794. Springboard courses are part time and the majority of courses provide for between thirty and sixty credits.  
 
The average cost per participant in FÁS training, including evening training, in 2012 was €5,017. It should be noted that the average cost includes the cost of trainee allowances, where applicable.