Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
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Question 218: To ask the Minister for Education and Science the reason persons having completed a two year VTOS course and having been recommended for a third year have had their income reduced by €30 from the completion of the second year course to the commencement of the third year course in the next term of the courses in the one continuous year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24872/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is a two-year year second chance education programme for adults unemployed for at least six months and over 21 years of age. Students who had a prior entitlement to certain Social Welfare payments receive a training allowance instead of their Social Welfare payment at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of unemployment benefit. A person will qualify for a bonus payment of €31.80 if they have been in receipt of an unemployment payment for one year directly before their course commencement date.

Vocational Education Committees (VECs) are authorised to grant a third year on the VTOS programme in very exceptional circumstances such as: entry with very low levels of literacy/numeracy, where an extra year is required to reach accreditation or significant amounts of tuition time lost through serious personal health problems. Payments to VTOS students by the VEC cease following completion of the two year VTOS programme. Decisions on whether a student can stay on VTOS for a third year have to be ratified at a meeting of the VEC. In cases where students are approved for extension of the VTOS scheme any additional payments are reinstated and backdated.