John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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267. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the number of young persons under 25 years of age who commenced a VTOS course in 2015; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34929/16]

John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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268. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills the current number of young persons under 25 years of age on a VTOS course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34930/16]

John Halligan (Waterford, Independent)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 267 and 268 together

I am advised by SOLAS that the number of young persons aged under 25 who enrolled on VTOS courses in 2015 was 827. The scheme was introduced in 1989 and was designed specifically to provide for the needs of those who are long-term unemployed with minimal or no qualifications to facilitate their return to education and training. An evaluation of the VTOS programme will commence in 2017 as part of the series of programme evaluations set out the Further Education and Training Strategy 2014-2019.