Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 676: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the proposals she has to increase the meal allowance for VTOS learners by €4 to €20 per week and to at least double the travel allowance; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [33307/07]

Bobby Aylward (Carlow-Kilkenny, Fianna Fail)
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Question 724: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if she will increase substantially the meal and travel allowance paid to VTOS learners which is currently €4 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [34034/07]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 676 and 724 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 question are equivalent to those paid to participants on FÁS training courses. VTOS students are entitled to a meal allowance of €0.80 per day. They may be entitled to a travel allowance if they reside more than 3 miles from a centre. This weekly allowance ranges from €4.60 for a distance of 3 to 5 miles to €32.60 for a distance of 40 to 50 miles from a centre. These allowances are increased in line with increases in FÁS rates. An increase in the FÁS rates will be necessary before VTOS rates can be increased.