Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

I appreciate the Minister of State taking the time to attend the House to answer my query, somewhat. However, with respect to him, I must inform those who write ministerial responses that I already know what the VTOS scheme is, its purpose, the criteria for taking part in it and how one applies for it. The Minister of State has read a page and a half of information that everyone in the House is well aware of.

Some part of the VTOS scheme is not working. People in my constituency have been told they are 12 days or three days short and should go home and sit around for the next 12 months. I asked if some mechanism be found to allow a person to do the VTOS course he wants to do, or some other VTOS or back to education course. The answer in the last two paragraphs of the Minister of State's statement is effectively to say sorry, that is not possible. I get that and I will have to find some other creative way to assist these gentlemen.

The Minister of State indicated that other options are available. The reason these people arrived in my office is that they were told to go home and sit around for the next year and wait for the course to be provided again. That is not good enough.

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