Michael Ring (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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Question 1753: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the allowances paid to VTOS course participants (details supplied); when these allowances were last reviewed; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [30724/08]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, 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 or over and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. VTOS is operated through 33 VECs nationwide. VTOS students are paid a training allowance in lieu of their previous qualifying social welfare payment, at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of jobseeker's benefit. Students retain their social welfare secondary benefits and may also receive a payment for an adult or child dependant if appropriate. Social welfare rates are determined in the annual Government Budget.

VTOS students benefit from free tuition, books, materials and the VEC adult guidance service. The Adult Education childcare service, which is available to students on the VTOS, Youthreach, Senior Traveller Training and Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) programmes, now caters for 1,700 student-parents and their 2,300 children. VTOS students in receipt of their social welfare payment for one year prior to course commencement also receive a training bonus of €31.80. Students are entitled to a meal allowance and a travel allowance if they reside more than 3 miles from a centre. These allowances are equivalent to those paid to participants on FÁS training courses and are increased periodically in line with increases in FÁS rates. The current rates have been in operation since 2002. There are currently no plans to increase these allowances.