Grants and Funding

As Creedons College QQI programmes are nationally accredited, this means that they are approved for most grants and funding supports.

Below is some information on grants and funding that you may be entitled to.

 

 

Back to Education Allowance

If you are unemployed, parenting alone or have a disability and are getting certain payments from the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP), you may take part in a second-or third-level education course and get a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

More information can be found here. 

 

Short-Term Enterprise Allowance

The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance (STEA) gives support to people who have lost their job and want to start their own business.
To qualify you must be getting Jobseeker’s Benefit. There is no qualifying period, which means you do not need to have been getting Jobseeker’s Benefit for a certain period of time. However, you will not qualify if you are getting Jobseeker’s Benefit and working part-time.
The Short-Term Enterprise Allowance is paid instead of your Jobseeker’s Benefit for a maximum of 9 months. It ends when your entitlement to Jobseeker’s Benefit ends (that is at either 9 or 6 months).

This allowance also provides some funding for education and business set up under the Enterprise Support Grant (ESG). Up to €250 can be received for training and more funding for business start up costs are available.

More information can be found here. 

 

Back to Work Enterprise Allowance

The BtWEA is very similar to the Short Term Enterprise Allowance though slightly different qualifying conditions.

This allowance also allows for funding through the Enterprise Support Grant.

More information can be found here.

 

Technical Employment Support Grant [TESG]

The Local Employment Services Network provides funding for training for those out of work. The grant will cover training that leads to a career path.

More information can be found here. 

 

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, which is run by the Department of Education and Skills, is operated through the VECs.

You can qualify for VTOS if you are:
  • aged at least 21
  • getting Jobseeker’s Allowance or Benefit or signing for credits for at least six months
You can also qualify if you are getting, for at least six months:
  • One-Parent Family Payment,
  • Disability Allowance,
  • Illness Benefit,
  • Invalidity Pension,
  • Blind Pension,
  • Deserted Wife’s Allowance,
  • Deserted Wife’s Benefit,
  • Widow’s or Widowers Non-Contributory Pension,
  • Widow’s or Widowers Contributory Pension, or
  • Prisoners Wife’s Allowance

For more information click here.

 

Training Support Grant

This scheme is designed to fund quick access to short term training or related interventions, obtain/renew certification/permits for individual jobseekers that have identified work opportunities or where Case Officers have identified an immediate skills gap that represents an obstacle to taking up a job offer or accessing other activation interventions.

A maximum amount of €500 per annum may be made available within a 12 month period for each Jobseeker, where appropriate. This is the overall total for each jobseeker, regardless of the number of courses sought/required.

More information can be found here. 

Stay at Home Parent or Formally Self Employed

A Springboard+ grant may cover the cost of your QQI training course. Creedons College is not yet recognised as a Springboard course provider, but we hope to become so in the near future.

You are eligible for Springboard+, if you have been out of the work environment due to childcare or other caring obligations and require upskilling or reskilling to get back to the workforce.

You are eligible for Springboard+, if you were formerly self-employed but are now unemployed and actively seeking work. You don’t need to be getting a social welfare payment.

More information can be found here.