Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 29: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Education and Skills if she will reverse the Budget 2011 decision to reduce the vocational training opportunities scheme training allowance from €31.80 to €20.00 per week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [47670/10]

Seán Haughey (Dublin North Central, Fianna Fail)
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The training allowance referred to by the Deputy is a training bonus payment made to Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), Youthreach and Senior Traveller Training Centre (STTC) participants and FÁS trainees who have been in receipt of their relevant social welfare payment for at least 12 months directly before joining the VTOS, Youthreach, STTC or FAS course. This bonus is paid in addition to the weekly training allowance which is paid to participants in lieu of their social welfare payment.

Participants in these programmes are also eligible for a range of meal and travel allowances as well as for childcare support under the Childcare in Education and Training Scheme (CETS).

The decision to reduce the weekly training bonus payment from €31.80 to €20.00 was taken as part of Budget 2011.