Ned O'Keeffe
Ceist:46 Mr. E. O'Keeffe asked the Minister for Social Welfare if he will give a detailed breakdown as to the numbers currently participating in second chance education schemes at second and third-level. [18574/96]
Written Answers. - Second Chance Education Schemes.
At present there are a number of schemes available to unemployed people and lone parents who wish to participate in full-time or part-time educational courses while continuing to retain their social welfare payments.
The Department of Education operates the vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) through the network of vocational education committees (VECs). This scheme provides an opportunity to pursue a second level education course which can lead to qualifications such as junior certificate, leaving certificate and certain city and guild certificates. To qualify under the scheme an unemployed person or lone parent must be at least 21 years of age and have been unemployed for at least six months. Participants are paid the equivalent of their unemployment payment directly by the vocational education committee. Provision has been made for some 5,000 VTOS places in the 1996-97 academic year.
The second level certificate scheme is available to unemployed persons and lone parents who are unable to pursue a VTOS course. Participants may attend full-time second level education courses at any community, comprehensive or vocational courses provided they satisfy the qualifying conditions for the VTOS scheme. Their entitlement to social welfare payments are not affected while attending such courses. There are no statistics available on the number of persons availing of this scheme but it is estimated that up to 1,000 people availed of it in the 1995-96 academic year.
Unemployed people and lone parents wishing to pursue a third level education course may participate in the third level allowance scheme operated by my Department. To qualify under the scheme a person must be aged 23 years or over and be unemployed for at least six months. Participants can receive a payment equivalent to their relevant social welfare payment while attending a full-time third level course at any university, third level college or institution provided that both the college and the course involved are approved by the Department of Education for higher education grants purposes. To date, 2,694 people have been approved under this scheme in respect of the 1996-97 academic year. Applications are still being received by my Department and it is envisaged that an additional 200 persons will qualify before the end of the year. An unemployed person or lone parent who fails to qualify for a full-time education course may attend a part-time education course and retain their entitlement to unemployment payments. However, unemployed persons availing of this option must satisfy my Department that they continue to be actively seeking and available for full-time work. There are no statistics available on the numbers benefiting from these arrangements.