Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme

Name of the instrument - Local language: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Name of the instrument - English translation: Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme
Scheme ID: 296
Country: Ireland
Reporting year: 2020
Type of instrument: Grant for individuals
Sub-type of instrument: Lump-sum support
Type of entry: Single instrument

Short description: The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is targeted at unemployed persons over 21 years of age. Its primary target groups are the longer-term unemployed. It aims to give participants education and training opportunities which will develop and prepare them to go into paid employment or on to further education opportunities leading to paid employment. If eligible, participants receive a training allowance in place of their welfare payment as well as travel and meal allowance and can access childcare supports under the Childcare Employment and Training Support scheme under the Department of Social Protection.

Level of operation

National

Name of a part of the country

Not applicable

Name of the region (for regional instruments)

Not applicable

Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)

Not applicable

Relevance

Key instrument

Legal basis

Not applicable

Objective(s) and target(s)

The VTOS Scheme provides a range of courses to help people who are unemployed re-enter the workforce. The courses are full-time and are usually delivered over two academic years on a full-time basis of 30 hours per week.

Year of implementation

1989

Operation/management

The delivery of the grants is through the regional ETB boards. The overall national target and budget is set through SOLAS.

Eligible group(s)

Aged 21 years or over and unemployed, targeted at long-term unemployed (over 6 months)

Group(s) with preferential treatment

Eligible applicants must be over 21 years and are: Getting Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance or signing for credits for at least 6 months (156 days) or Getting One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension for at least 6 months (156 days) or Getting Blind Pension, Deserted Wife's Allowance/Benefit, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Contributory Pension, Widow's, Widower's or Surviving Civil Partner's Non-Contributory Pension or Prisoner's Wife's Allowance for at least 6 months (conditions may apply in the case of these payments) or A dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of an eligible person A person who received statutory redundancy but who has not been in receipt of a qualifying payment for the required period.

Education and training eligible

Courses are provided by Education and Training Boards (regional). Courses range from basic education and training to advanced vocational training and there is a wide choice of subjects. The courses are full-time, about 30 hours a week (for example, 6 hours a day for 5 days) and can last up to 2 years. Many courses lead to qualifications such as the Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate and awards at Levels 3, 4, 5 and 6 on the National Framework of Qualifications.

Source of financing and collection mechanism

National Training Fund and Exchequer B5 ETB Grants Allocation

Financing formula and allocation mechanisms

Participants receive income support. VTOS participants are allocated a VTOS training allowance at the same rate as their jobseeker's payment. There are no fees for VTOS courses (including books and materials). Further allowances for meals, travel, and childcare depending on individual circumstances.

Eligible costs

The VTOS training allowance receive a monthly rate that is the same as their jobseeker's payment. Beneficiaries who are under 25 move from an age-related reduced rate and receive a maximum allowance of 203 per week.

Volumes of funding

2019: EUR 71 722 823 2018: EUR 69 784 551 2017: EUR 73 742 944

Beneficiaries/take up

2019: 7 721 2018: 8 076 2017: 7 966

Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation

Department for Education and Skills

Most relevant webpage - in English