Dinny McGinley (Donegal South West, Fine Gael)
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Question 211: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she has plans to increase the allowance paid to those attending VTOS courses in adult education; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27583/07]

Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 217: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the amount of the meal allowance and the travel allowance which is paid to VTOS students to a more realistic level. [27674/07]

Martin Ferris (Kerry North, Sinn Fein)
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Question 220: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase the travel and meal allowance available to VTOS participants to a level that would adequately reflect the high cost of living here; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27699/07]

Dan Neville (Limerick West, Fine Gael)
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Question 223: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if her Department will grant extra moneys to VTOS to allow them to be in a position to pay a meal and travel allowance relative to prices today to the VTOS students; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27707/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 211, 217, 220 and 223 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 certain 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 meal 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.