Vol. 521 No. 1
294 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science the number of VTOS participants who commenced courses in September 1999; the numbers retained at the end of the 1999-2000 school year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16656/00]
Enrolment figures for the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS – for October 1999 show 5,169 participants to have commenced the programme at the start of the 1999-2000 academic year. The latest figures, which relate to April 2000, show an enrolment of 4,921 participants. The enrolment statistics for the end of the academic year 1999-2000 will not be available until July 2000.
295 Ms Shortall asked the Minister for Education and Science if his attention has been drawn to the need to provide financial support to persons in the 18 to 21 year age group who were early school leavers and who wish to return to education; his views on whether people in this position should not have to wait until they are 21 years and qualify for VTOS; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16657/00]
The Green Paper on Adult Education proposed that barriers to participation in education of those aged 18 to 20 who left school with no qualifications should be removed, and that they should be allowed retain their training allowances. This arrangement is now being implemented. Youthreach eligible participants are generally those who left school early with no qualifications, or with less than five Ds in the junior certificate.
There are no plans to reduce the entry age for the vocational training opportunity scheme from 21 years of age on the basis that the programme has been designed for older people with a record of unemployment, with special targeting of those who have been long-term unemployed.
It should be borne in mind that students in the 18 to 21 age group may re-enter the education system to complete their education or to repeat the leaving certificate. For those resuming their education there is no charge. For those repeating the leaving certificate an annual fee of £100 applies, but this is waived in the case of medical card holders.
