Charles Flanagan (Laois-Offaly, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 344: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her attention has been drawn to the difficulties being experienced by students attending VTOS courses with regard to travel and subsistence allowance; her views on an appropriate revision of rates; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [26879/07]

Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 366: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals to increase the meal and travel allowance for VTOS students (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27010/07]

Fergus O'Dowd (Louth, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 367: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if travel and meal allowances for vocational training opportunities scheme students attending a centre (details supplied) in County Louth will be increased in line with rising costs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27011/07]

Joe Carey (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 370: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to review the meal and travel allowance scheme payable to participants on vocational training and opportunities scheme courses in adult education centres here; her views on whether the €4 per week subsistence is inadequate and should be raised to €4 per day and that the travel allowance payable should be doubled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27039/07]

Question 371: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her views on increasing meal and travel allowance for VTOS learners with meal allowance currently only €4 per week and travel allowance also being substandard; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27040/07]

John Deasy (Waterford, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 373: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her plans to increase the meal and travel allowance for people participating in VTOS courses; when this allowance was last increased; her views on increasing the amount in line with inflation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27057/07]

Pat Breen (Clare, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 420: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has plans to increase the meal and travel allowance payments to the vocational educational opportunity schemes as the payments are inadequate; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27543/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context

I propose to take Questions Nos. 344, 366, 367, 370, 371, 373, 398 and 420 together.

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second chance education initiative for unemployed persons, who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months, which is funded by my Department. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees. The aims of the Scheme are to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop and prepare them to go into paid employment or on to further education opportunities leading to paid employment.

A training allowance is paid by the VECs to students who previously drew unemployment benefit or assistance. The student ceases to receive an unemployment payment and, instead, receives a VTOS training allowance at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of unemployment benefit, plus a payment for an adult or child dependant, if appropriate. VTOS students also retain their social welfare secondary benefits.

The allowances for VTOS students, for meals and travel, referred to in the questions are equivalent to these paid to participants on FÁS training courses. VTOS students may be entitled to a travel allowance if they reside more than 3 miles from a centre. These allowances are increased periodically in line with increases in FÁS rates. The current rates are in operation since 2002. There are no plans to increase them in the near future.