The Green Paper on Adult Education proposed that barriers to participation in education of those aged 18 to 20 who left school with no qualifications should be removed, and that they should be allowed retain their training allowances. This arrangement is now being implemented. Youthreach eligible participants are generally those who left school early with no qualifications, or with less than five Ds in the junior certificate.
There are no plans to reduce the entry age for the vocational training opportunity scheme from 21 years of age on the basis that the programme has been designed for older people with a record of unemployment, with special targeting of those who have been long-term unemployed.
It should be borne in mind that students in the 18 to 21 age group may re-enter the education system to complete their education or to repeat the leaving certificate. For those resuming their education there is no charge. For those repeating the leaving certificate an annual fee of £100 applies, but this is waived in the case of medical card holders.