Mary Flaherty
Ceist:79 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he has any plans to ensure that women returning to work are allowed access to vocational training opportunity schemes.
Written Answers. - Vocational Training Schemes.
The vocational training opportunities scheme allows any long-term unemployed person aged 21 or over, to attend a leaving certificate type course while continuing to receive an allowance equivalent to their unemployment payment. The scheme is confined to those persons who are in receipt of unemployment assistance at the long-term rate.
The scheme was piloted by my Department, but since January 1990 it has been administered and funded by the Department of Education.
There is a commitment in the Programme for Economic and Social Progress which relates to improving the range of options, opportunities and incentives to the unemployed, lone parents and other social welfare categories aimed at their return, where appropriate, to the workforce. In that context, the question of expanding the eligibility criteria for participation in the vocational training opportunities scheme is being examined.
Mary Flaherty
Ceist:80 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare his views on whether there is an anomaly in the treatment of the unemployed on vocational training opportunity schemes and those who are simply in receipt of benefit with no ancillary benefits.
The vocational training opportunities scheme enables the long-term unemployed aged 21 or over, to attend a leaving certificate type course while continuing to receive an allowance equivalent to their unemployment payments. This scheme was originally administered by my Department and was known as the education opportunities scheme. Since January 1990, the scheme has been administered and funded and allowances paid by the Department of Education. The scheme is principally financed through the European Social Fund.
I have made separate arrangements with the City of Dublin Vocational Education Committee for places to be made available under the vocational preparation and training programme to the long-term unemployed. Under that programme the long-term unemployed can attend education courses while continuing to receive a payment equivalent to their unemployment assistance entitlement. Payment is made on a weekly basis by the VEC who are reimbursed by my Department.
There are certain differences between the two schemes, particularly in relation to the payment of additional expenses to participants. My Department are at present involved in discussions with the Department of Education with a view to standardising the arrangements under the two schemes.
Mary Flaherty
Ceist:81 Miss Flaherty asked the Minister for Social Welfare the number of long-term unemployed persons who are now on (1) vocational training opportunity schemes and (2) in full time education.
There are 660 places available nationwide in the VTOS scheme and there are at present 500 unemployed people participating in courses.
In addition, a total of 70 unemployed people are pursuing vocational preparation and training programmes in the Dublin region. Participants on these courses are paid a weekly allowance equivalent to their unemployment payments.
The facility to pursue second level education was introduced in December 1989 and there are also 70 unemployed persons availing of this option. Participants in this scheme continue to draw their unemployment payments.
A third level pilot scheme was launched last July with up to 100 places available. There are currently 67 participants in this scheme.