Vol. 530 No. 1
173 Mr. Aylward asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will approve immediate substantial increases in the allocation to the non-pay funding for VTOS programmes where the allocation has not been increased since its commencement in 1989 and where programmes cannot be adequately catered for within the current budget. [3300/01]
179 Mr. Belton asked the Minister for Education and Science if he will increase the allocations for VTOS funding. [3328/01]
I propose to take Questions Nos. 173 and 179 together.
The vocational training opportunities scheme (VTOS) 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 of at least an equivalent amount. They are also paid travelling expenses where they reside three miles from the centre and a meal allowance in line with those payable by FÁS. About 5,000 people participate annually on the vocational training opportunities scheme at an overall annual cost to the State of £32 million.
The vocational training opportunities scheme has proved successful in opening up learning and progression opportunities for people who have been marginalised by unemployment. For each of the years 1994 to 2000, the percentage of participants who completed the programme and who progressed to work or further education was 70% or more.
The £15,000 referred to in the questions represents the amount of grant paid by my Department to vocational education committees in respect of each group of 20 students. It covers expenditure on such items as light, heat, rent, books and equipment and other general expenses. The VTOS non-pay element of funding of £15,000 per core group of 20 students has remained unchanged since 1989. Because of limitations on resources, it has not so far been found possible to correspondingly increase the grant. However, improvements have been made in the resources available for VTOS students. A training bonus of £25 per week was introduced in September 1999 for participants who were registered as long-term unemployed prior to starting their programme, i.e. 12 months, as an incentive to encourage greater participation of the long-term unemployed in education and training programmes.
