Jack Wall (Kildare South, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context

Question 522: To ask the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the difficulties outlined in correspondence (details supplied) for persons who have been made redundant enrolling in VTOS courses; his plans to address the situation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [42202/08]

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

The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides full-time second-chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are over the age of 21 and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. VTOS is funded by my Department and operated through the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs). Its primary target group are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvantaged.

There are a wide variety of other further education opportunities available to unemployed and employed persons alike, both part-time and full-time, under the Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) and through Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) courses. The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA), which is administered by the Department of Social and Family Affairs, is a second chance education opportunities scheme designed to encourage and facilitate people on certain social welfare payments to improve their skills and qualifications and, therefore, their prospects of returning to the work force. Eligibility for the Back to Education Allowance and associated payments is determined and administered by that Department. FÁS also provides training opportunities for unemployed persons under a wide variety of initiatives, such as the Community Employment Scheme and the Job Initiative Scheme.