Vol. 547 No. 1
1090 Mr. Howlin asked the Minister for Education and Science if qualifying conditions limiting participation in vocational training opportunities schemes to persons in receipt of an unemployment payment for six months will be waived in the case of a person (details supplied) in County Wexford; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [2726/02]
Under the vocational training opportunities scheme, VTOS, full-time courses are provided to adults who are at least 21 years of age and in receipt of specified social welfare payments for at least six months. The VTOS programme was designed for long-term unemployed people with minimal or no qualifications. The number of approved places on the programme is limited, currently standing at 5,000, and demand exceeds supply. In these circumstances, I regret that a departure from the VTOS eligibility criteria in individual cases would not be possible.
