Vol. 526 No. 5
115 Mr. R. Bruton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he has made provision in his Estimates to alter the term or conditions of the VTOS allowance; and the existing conditions and new conditions now being provided for. [27132/00]
The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme was established in 1989 with the objective of providing second-chance education and training opportunities for unemployed adults over the age of 21 and in receipt of an unemployment payment for at least six months. Participants in VTOS cease to receive unemployment payments and are paid training allowances by the vocational education committees at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of unemployment benefit, including any appropriate increases due for a qualified adult and dependent children.
VTOS students in receipt of a one-parent family payment or disability allowances transfer to a VTOS allowance but continue to receive it from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. Their allowance is also payable at the maximum rate of their payment.
Participants in receipt of a relevant social welfare payment for 12 months or more immediately prior to starting the VTOS course are entitled to a training bonus of £25 per week.
VTOS participants are also paid travelling expenses, where they reside three miles from the centre, and a meal allowance in line with those payable by FÁS.
There is also a scheme of grants for child care to facilitate the attendance of people who would otherwise be prevented from doing so by child care responsibilities.
There are no plans at present to alter the terms and conditions of the VTOS allowances.
The White Paper on Adult Education states that, over time, and providing for the necessary transfer of resources, it is intended that overall responsibility for the payment of all existing training-welfare allowances for VTOS should transfer to the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs.
