Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 25 February 2009
230 Deputy Aengus Ó Snodaigh asked the Minister for Education and Science if, in view of the large number of people being made unemployed, consideration will be given to increasing the number of places on vocational training opportunities schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [7864/09]
View answerThe Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides full-time second-chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults who are over the age of 21 and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. VTOS is funded by my Department and operated through the 33 Vocational Education Committees (VECs). Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed, the low-skilled and disadvantaged. There are currently 5,000 approved places on VTOS nationwide. Due to the difficult budgetary position it was not possible to allocate further funding to increase the number of places this year. Any possible future expansion of VTOS would have to take account of the present and prospective economic and budgetary context and related financial constraints.
