Richard Boyd Barrett (Dún Laoghaire, People Before Profit Alliance)
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231. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection if her attention has been drawn to the fact that when a social welfare recipient is transitioning from jobseeker's to a VTOS scheme, he or she is required to pay a back week and therefore does not get paid for the first week; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [40385/18]

Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme, which is run by the Department of Education and Skills, is operated through the Educational and Training Boards (ETBs). VTOS is aimed in particular at unemployed people who are early school leavers and to prepare them to gain employment or engage in further educational opportunities.

In general, VTOS participants who move from a jobseekers scheme receive a VTOS payment paid at the same rate as their jobseekers payment. Jobseekers is generally payable on a Tuesday or Wednesday and on transferring to VTOS, will be paid on the following Friday week.

Any one experiencing financial hardship as a result of the change in these payment arrangements are advised to contact their local Community Welfare Service. If the Deputy has a particular case, he should provide the individual's details to my Department so that we ensure that the appropriate payments are in place.