Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 496: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the exact guidelines for eligibility for a VTOS course. [9134/06]

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 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.

In order to be eligible for a VTOS course, a person must be at least 21 years of age. He or she also must be in receipt of one of the following payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs for at least six months — 156 days — directly prior to the course commencement date; unemployment assistance; unemployment benefit; one-parent family payment; invalidity pension; disability allowance; disability benefit or be signing for credits for at least six months; or be a dependent spouse of an eligible person.

The following categories of people who are in receipt of one of the following payments are also eligible provided they are at least 21 years of age and can satisfy the Department of Social and Family Affairs that they have not been engaged in paid work for at least six months: deserted wife's allowance; deserted wife's benefit; widow or widower's contributory pension; widow or widower's non-contributory pension; and prisoner's wife allowance.

Periods spent on FÁS training courses, community employment schemes, job initiative or Youthreach programmes or time spent in prison can count towards the six month qualifying period, but one must be in receipt of one of the relevant social welfare payments immediately before starting the programme.