Colm Burke (Cork North Central, Fine Gael)
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869. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if VTOS payments will continue past the initial extension date of August 2020 due to uncertainty in relation to the date on which students will return to college; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [21996/20]

Niall Collins (Limerick County, Fianna Fail)
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The Department of Education and Skills circular letter 23 / 2020 was issued on 10th March 2020 regarding the payment of learner payments during the COVID-19 crisis. Regarding school and centre closures the circular states: “If, following HSE advice, a school or centre is closed as a result of COVID-19, the ETB will continue to pay learner payments as applicable.”

Clarification was issued to the sector on 18th March 2020 that stated: “In relation to learners in receipt of learner payments who are delayed on their further education and training programmes, they should continue to receive their current learner payment until the programme or course can be completed.”

This clarifcation still applies and learner payments, including training allowances for those enrolled on a VTOS course, will continue until the course the learner is currently enrolled on is fully completed. The completion of courses and assessments, which had been delayed due to Covid-19, has been prioritised as part of the reopening arrangements for further education and training facilities.