Vol. 505 No. 5
137 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science the plans, if any, he has to extend VTOS to include widows as well as those on a one parent family allowance; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14145/99]
The vocational training opportunities scheme consists of a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people. The aims of the scheme are to give unemployed people education and training opportunities and to prepare them to go to paid employment or to further opportunities leading to paid employment.
To qualify for the scheme, people must be over 21 years of age and unemployed for at least six months. Also eligible to join the scheme are recipients of one-parent family payments for at least six months who have at least one dependent child. These include those in receipt of widows-widowers contributory or non-contributory pensions.
