The Back to Education Initiative (BTEI) provides an opportunity for adults to combine a return to learning with family, work and other responsibilities. Programmes are offered on a part-time basis: in the mornings, afternoons, evenings or at weekends.
There is a commitment in the Programme for Government to expand the number of BTEI places to 10,000 by 2009. 1,000 additional BTEI places were allocated in 2007 and funding has been made available in 2008 for an another 500 places which will bring the total number of places to 9,500.
Since its inception in 2002, funding for the BTEI has increased from just over €6m in 2002 to €18m in 2007. With effect from 1 September 2007, BTEI eligibility criteria were amended to allow free tuition to any adult with less than an upper second level education. Originally only people with a social welfare entitlement or medical card were entitled to free fees.
The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides a full-time education option for people who are over 21 years of age and in receipt of certain social welfare payments. The Government remains committed to increase the number of places on VTOS as outlined in the Programme for Government.