As a student attending a private college, you are not entitled to funding through the Department of Education.  
However, if you are planning on attending any of our FETAC courses and are currently unemployed and claiming social welfare payments, there are a number of schemes you may be eligible for:

FAS:

The Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG)

The Technical Employment Support Grant (TESG) allows National Employment Services Officers to support a range of responses for clients who are experiencing major barriers in progressing from unemployment to the workforce, where this need cannot be met by FÁS directly or any other state provider, within a reasonable timeframe or at a location convenient to the jobseeker. A budget of up to €500 per person may be made available for this purpose.

Each application is considered individually by FAS and must be relevant to your Action Plan

You will need to:

• Visit your local FAS office and speak to your Placement Officer
• Explain to FAS Placement Officer that you would like to attend this course to develop an Action Plan for your return to work
• If one of our courses is essential to helping you find employment, FAS may fund the training up to 100%

Website: www.fas.ie

Department of Social Protection:

Back To Education

You can return to full-time or part-time education while continuing to get income support. 


Back to Education Allowance

The Back to Education Programme is a scheme for people getting certain  social welfare payments to take an approved second or third level course at a recognised school or college and still receive a payment. Different rules apply to eligibility depending on which payment you are receiving.

You will need to:

Contact you're the college to get details of the courses available. We will advise you on how to get a place on the course of your choice.

If you are accepted on a course, you should notify the Department of Social Protection by filling in the Back to Education Allowance application form which is available from your Social Welfare Local Office.

Website: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/Publications/SW70/Pages/ABacktoEducationAllowanceBTEA.aspx
 

Education, Training and Development (ET&D) Option

If you are getting a jobseeker's payment and your choice of course is not covered under the Back to Education Allowance Scheme, you may keep your jobseeker's payment while doing a course of education, training or development. It must be clear that the course will enhance your employment prospects.

You will need to:

Contact your Social Welfare Local Office.

Website: http://www.welfare.ie/EN/OperationalGuidelines/pages/bte_etdo.aspx

Please note:  Rules, regulations and schemes are constantly changing.  The information provided is the most current at publication.

Tax Relief

Department of Revenue:
Tuition fees paid for certain training courses in the areas of information technology and foreign languages. The relief applies to fees ranging from €315 to €500.

We are listing on the revenue commissioners website under Approved Information Technology Courses/Course Providers.

Upon completion of your fee payments, please visit Martina in the Administration Office for relevant letters and information to complete your application for Tax Relief.

Website: www.revenue.ie