Vol. 482 No. 2
116 Mr. Yates asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will review the eligibility criteria for participation in VTOS to repeat the leaving certificate in order that women, who do not pass a means test for lone parent's allowance or unemployment assistance, could be considered for such a place particularly in relation to the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford. [17538/97]
Vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) courses are conducted by the vocational education committees. Application for admission to a VTOS course should be made to the appropriate vocational education committee. Criteria laid down by my Department govern the admission to VTOS courses. These criteria require VTOS participants to have been on the live register for at least six months prior to admission to VTOS, or to have been in receipt of a disability allowance or a lone parent's allowance.
The details supplied say that the person in question was refused admission to a VTOS course on 27 June 1997. It would appear, however, from inquiries made from County Wexford Vocational Education Committee and the Town of Wexford Vocational Education Committee, that she has not applied to either of them to go on VTOS this September. It is understood that she did apply to Town of Wexford Vocational Education Committee in 1996 and was not eligible, because she had not been on the live register for six months nor in receipt of lone parent's allowance.
The main aim of VTOS is to provide a second chance educational opportunity to long-term unemployed persons who have demonstrated through the signing on process that they are unemployed and seeking employment.
It is on that basis that substantial aid is made available from the European Social Fund. Accordingly, I would not feel justified in broadening the terms of the scheme.
If the circumstances of the person in question have changed since 1996, an application from her to join a VTOS course now would be considered by the vocational education committee.
