Vol. 557 No. 6
110 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if the qualifications, conditions, payment rates and supplements which are payable for a person taking up VTOS are the same as for the back to education allowance of the Department of Social and Family Affairs; and the differences in this regard. [23038/02]
Participants on both the back to education allowance scheme and the vocational training opportunities scheme receive an allowance in lieu of their social welfare payments. This allowance is paid at a standard rate in both cases, and is equivalent to the maximum rate of the students' prior social welfare payment, and includes increases for qualified adults and children where applicable. The main differences in the treatment of allowances are:
(i) VTOS students who have been in receipt of eligible social welfare payments for at least 12 months directly prior to joining a VTOS course receive a weekly training bonus of €31.80. This bonus, which also applies to FÁS, was introduced in 1999 as an incentive to attract long-term unemployed people onto VTOS. Students attending courses under the Department of Social and Family Affairs's back to education scheme do not get this bonus.
(ii) VTOS students are given books and materials free of charge, and a travel allowance is paid to students who live more than three miles from a centre. BTEA students are entitled to an annual allowance towards the cost of their studies. This allowance, which is payable at the start of the academic year, is currently €254.
(iii) Funds are also provided towards child care by my Department for VTOS.
In terms of access criteria, the schemes both require that adults are at least 21 years of age, and at least six months – 156 days – in receipt of certain social welfare payments. However, under the BTEA, a person who is at least 18 years of age and getting disability allowance, blind pension, invalidity pension or unemployability supplement for at least six months – 156 days – or a person in receipt of disability benefit for three years or more, also qualifies for the back to education allowance. A person who is aged between 18 and 20 years, out of formal education for two years, and in receipt of an eligible social welfare payment for at least six months – 156 days – also qualifies for the BTEA.
