Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 16 July 2013
312. Deputy Willie O'Dea asked the Minister for Education and Skills the total number of persons in receipt of the vocational training opportunities scheme in 2010, 2011, 2012 and to date in 2013; the current number in receipt broken down by county; the total costs of the payment in 2010, 2011, 2012 and estimated total costs in 2013; his plans for the future of the payment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34897/13]
View answerThe Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) provides second chance education and training courses of up to two years duration for people who are 21 years of age or over, and who are at least six months unemployed. People participating in VTOS who are in receipt of Job Seekers Benefit or Job Seekers Allowance receive a payment in lieu of this from the Education and Training Board (ETB) for the duration of their course. These payments are funded by my Department.
People participating in VTOS who are in receipt of a Disability Allowance or One Parent Family Payment continue to receive their payment from the Department of Social Protection.
In 2010, there were 5,702 learners enrolled on the VTOS programme, 4,251 of whom were in receipt of a VTOS training allowance from VECs. In 2011, there were 5,650 learners enrolled on the VTOS programme, 4,211 of whom were in receipt of a VTOS training allowance from VECs. In 2012, there were 5,637 learners enrolled on the VTOS programme, 4,335 of whom were in receipt of a VTOS training allowance from VECs.
A total of €79 million funding was provided by my Department in both 2010 and 2011 and almost €80 million in 2012 for the VTOS programme. This included pay and non-pay costs and included the cost of allowances paid to learners. A similar budget has been provided for 2013.
Data on learners are compiled from an annual survey of VTOS learners conducted at the end of December each year. I provided the Deputy with a breakdown of 2012 VTOS participants by county on 8 April 2013. The data for 2013 will be compiled from the annual survey due to be undertaken at the end of December 2013 and a breakdown of this data will be available in early 2014.
