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

Question 393: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if proposals or changes will be made to the travel allowance given to VTOS learners; her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29252/07]

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

Question 394: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if proposals or changes will be made to the day meal allowance given to VTOS learners; her views on the matter; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29253/07]

Joe McHugh (Donegal North East, Fine Gael)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 415: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the percentage increase of the meal allowance for VTOS learners over the past five years; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29376/07]

Willie Penrose (Longford-Westmeath, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 421: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will take steps to substantially increase the meal and travel allowance payable to participants in the VTOS schemes, whereby the participants are currently allowed 80 cent per day meal allowance and are given a travel allowance that is inadequate and which needs to be at least doubled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [29453/07]

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

I propose to take Questions Nos. 393, 394, 415 and 421 together.

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a second — chance education initiative, which is funded by my Department, for unemployed persons who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments for at least six months. It is operated through the Vocational Education Committees. The aim of the Scheme is 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.