I propose to take Questions Nos. 25, 73 and 84 together.
I am committed to expanding and developing VTOS to meet demand as resources permit. As I indicated in my contribution to the debate on a recent Dáil motion concerning VTOS, I envisage that such expansion and development of the scheme will be very much in the context of the operation of the area-based partnerships and the local employment services.
I replied in September last to correspondence from the Irish National Organisation for the Unemployed regarding VTOS. I am arranging to have a copy of my letter forwarded to Deputy Fitzgerald. My Department has since received further correspondence from the INOU. This is at present under consideration in my Department.