Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 June 2021

Tuesday, 22 June 2021

Questions (472)

Catherine Connolly

Question:

472. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when the 2019 VTOS guidelines will be updated to include the 2018 announcement per letter dated 4 July 2018 from the Department of Education and Science to Solas that international protection applicants are eligible for VTOS once they have permission to access the labour market; if form F103A will be adjusted to include the daily expense allowance in time for the September 2021 enrolment for VTOS in the academic year 2021-2022, given that the absence of these two administrative issues is causing much confusion for students, VTOS coordinators, guidance counsellors and Intreo staff; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [33261/21]

Written answers

Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

As the Deputy is aware, following the Government Decision of 26th June 2018, Ireland opted in to the EU (recast) Receptions Conditions Directive (2013/22/EU). Under this Directive, eligible international protection applicants who have their permission to work may be entitled to avail of further education and training (FET) in the same manner as Irish citizens, including VTOS. It should be noted there is no right to a place on any particular programme, applications from international protection applicants who have their permission to work are assessed according to the eligibility criteria in the same way as other applications.

As international protection applicants do not have an entitlement to income support from the Department of Social Protection, apart from that relating to direct provision, the payment of a training allowance, in lieu of such a payment will not apply. The daily expense allowance is not an eligible payment for VTOS.

Following the letter referred to by the Deputy, SOLAS engaged with the 16 Education and Training Boards (ETBs) to outline the details of these new arrangements.