Vol. 541 No. 5
261 Mr. Connaughton asked the Minister for Education and Science the reason a person (details supplied) in County Galway does not receive remuneration for her involvement in a vocational training opportunities scheme course; the further reason such a participant would fail to be paid an allowance which every other participant is receiving; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23354/01]
The vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) is open to adults aged 21 or over, who have been in receipt of unemployment benefit or assistance, a one-parent family payment, disability allowance or benefit, or invalidity pension for at least six months. A person who has been signing for credits for at least six months, or a dependant spouse of a person eligible for VTOS, can also enrol on the programme. VTOS participants who have been in receipt of unemployment benefit or unemployment assistance receive a training allowance from the VEC in lieu of their social welfare entitlement. Other allowances such as lone parent or disability allowances continue to be paid by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Persons signing for credits participate in the programme free but receive no training allowance.
As the person referred to in the question had not been receiving a social welfare payment prior to joining the VTOS programme, she is not now entitled to a training allowance in lieu of a social welfare payment.
