Vol. 533 No. 3
355 Mr. M. Higgins asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will make a statement on the lack of funding for the vocational training opportunities scheme in Rosmuc in view of the fact that when it was set up in 1989, it was allocated £15,000 per year and the allocation has not changed in the past 12 years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [9029/01]
VTOS Rosmuc is a centre offering second chance education in the west Galway region. It was inaugurated in 1999 and now has 16 students in full-time attendance.
The general VTOS was established in 1989 with the objective of providing second chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults over the age of 21 and in receipt of an unemployment payment for at least six months. Participants in VTOS cease to receive unemployment payments and are paid training allowances of at least an equivalent amount. They are also paid travelling expenses – when they reside three miles or more from the centre – and a meal allowance in line with those payable by FÁS.
About 5,000 people participate annually in the VTOS at an annual cost to the State of £32 million. The VTOS has proved successful in opening up learning and progression opportunities for people who have been marginalised by unemployment. For each of the years from 1994 to 2000, the percentage of participants who completed the programme and who progressed to work or further education was 70% or more.
The funding referred to in the question is the grant paid by my Department to vocational education committees for expenditure on such items as light, heat, rent, books and equipment and other general expenses. The rate of the grant is £15,000 per core group of 20 VTOS students. It has not been found possible to increase this rate in the current year.
