John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 324: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received and the number of places provided under the vocational training opportunities scheme in each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that the number of people in receipt of unemployment assistance is currently over 86,000; her further views on whether the number of vocational training opportunities scheme places needs to be substantially increased to make a significant contribution to assisting people in receipt of unemployment assistance to return to work; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [6055/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, provides full-time second chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. The scheme is funded by my Department and operated through the 33 vocational education committees, VECs. The maximum number of places that can be filled annually is 5,000. My Department does not keep figures on the number of applications made to the VECs for places on VTOS courses.

There are a number of other options available to unemployed adults in further and higher education. For example, people in receipt of social welfare payments, including unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance, may return to education and training programmes under the Department of Social and Family Affairs' back to education allowance scheme. They may also qualify for an approved third level programme, or post-leaving certificate programmes. The back to education initiative, part-time, for which there are over 7,000 places available annually, is another option for adults wishing to return to education and training.

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
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Question 325: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the number of applications received and the number of places provided under the vocational training opportunities scheme in each of the years 2002, 2003, 2004 and 2005 in Waterford city and county. [6056/06]

Síle de Valera (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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The vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, provides full-time second chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. The scheme is funded by my Department and operated through the 33 vocational education committees, VECs.

Over the years 2002 to 2005, City of Waterford VEC was given an allocation of 200 VTOS places per year. Over the years 2002 to 2005, County Waterford VEC was given an allocation of 100 places per year. Almost all of the allocated places were filled by both VECs. As the scheme is administered by the VECs, information on the number of applicants to participate in it in any VEC area is not furnished to my Department.

There are a number of other options available to unemployed adults in further and higher education. For example, people in receipt of social welfare payments, including unemployment benefit and unemployment assistance, may return to education and training programmes under the Department of Social and Family Affairs' back to education allowance scheme. They may also qualify for an approved third level programme or post-leaving certificate programmes. The back to education initiative, part-time, for which there are over 7,000 places available annually, is another option for adults wishing to return to education and training.