Enda Kenny (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 138: To ask the Minister for Education and Science her proposals in relation to making changes to the meal and travel allowance in respect of VTOS students; if her attention has been drawn to the fact that VTOS students currently receive €4.00 per week meal allowance which is 80 cent per day; when she proposes to increase changes in respect of these allowances; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27870/07]

Mary Hanafin (Dún Laoghaire, Fianna Fail)
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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.