Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if and when a person (details supplied) in County Kildare is likely to qualify for VTOS and or other educational programme; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39988/12]

Ciarán Cannon (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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My Department funds a range of Further Education programmes for adults returning to education. These include the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS), Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) and the Back To Education Initiative (BTEI). These programmes are provided locally by Vocational Education Committees (VECs).

The VTOS programme 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 protection payments for at least six months. Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvantaged. People participating in VTOS who are in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit or Job Seekers Allowance receive a payment in lieu of this from the VEC for the duration of their course. Those in receipt of a Disability Allowance or One Parent Family Payment continue to receive their payment from the Department of Social Protection.

PLC provides full-time programmes at FETAC Levels 5 and 6 for school leavers and adults returning to education This is provided free apart from a €200 participant contribution charge from which learners with a medical card or maintenance grant entitlement are exempt. Participants in PLC could be entitled to The Back to Education Allowance administered by the Department of Social Protection.

The BTEI programme targets adults with less than upper second level education in a range of part-time learning opportunities which lead to certification at Levels 1 to 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications. As this is a part time programme those in receipt of Department of Social Protection payments continue to receive their payment for the duration of the programme.

The person referred to by the Deputy should contact their local VEC, in this case Co Kildare VEC, for details of Further Education programmes in their area. The VEC will be able to advise them of their eligibility for any available Further Education programmes.