Vol. 521 No. 2
162 Mr. Wall asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will have investigations made into the problems created by the fact that FÁS only pays for the five stays for its employees, thus preventing them qualifying for VTOS courses which would permit them to re-enter the employment market; if he will ensure that this problem does not prevent such applicants obtaining the VTOS course; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [16784/00]
On the basis of the information available, it would appear that the applicant to whom the question refers would not qualify for the vocational training opportunities scheme – VTOS. The scheme is confined to adults over 21 who are in receipt of an unemployment payment or registered for credits, or in receipt of a one parent family payment or disability allowance, for at least six months. Dependent spouses in this category are also eligible.
Time spent by an unemployed person on a FÁS scheme can count towards this purpose, and in that context, a continuous 26 week course would be counted as equating with six months.
In order, however, to allow the case in question to be considered in full, I would ask the Deputy to arrange for full particulars to be forwarded to the further education section, Department of Education and Science, floor 1, block 4, Irish Life Centre, Talbot Street, Dublin 1.
