Overview: going back to education or back to work

Some formerly self-employed people may decide to retrain in a different area and others may decide to return to education to improve their skills. Here we look at the options available if you are considering changing your career or learning new skills that will improve your employability.

What schemes are there to help me get back to work?

Read our document about employment schemes which generally combine training with work experience. You can keep some of your extra benefits, such as a medical card or Rent Supplement, when you return to full- or part-time work after unemployment. Read more in our document on returning to work on citizensinformation.ie.

If you are taking up a low-paid job and you have children you may qualify for Family Income Supplement.

Can I keep my social welfare payment and go back to education?

You can continue to get a payment while you are doing an education or training course. Some schemes give you a training allowance and others allow you to keep your social welfare payment when you are doing education courses.

The Department of Social Protection’s Back to Education Programme can support you to take part in educational and personal development courses that will help you to access employment. If you wish to take a full-time second or third level course, you may qualify for a Back to Education Allowance (BTEA).

Alternatively you can continue to get your current social welfare payment if you wish to participate in part-time education, training or development courses.

The Vocational Training and Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) is aimed at unemployed people who were early school leavers. People taking part in VTOS are paid a weekly training allowance.

If you are between 15 and 20 years of age and have left school without any formal qualifications, the Youthreach programme can provide you with opportunities for basic education, personal development, vocational training and work experience. You are paid a weekly allowance.

How do I find a suitable course?

Qualifax is the Irish national database of all third-level and further education courses and has links to college and other education/training websites in Ireland and abroad. It includes information on careers to help second-level students to make choices plus a range of other useful information for students of all ages. You can also use your local public library to find information about courses in your area.

The main providers of adult education in Ireland are the vocational education committees (VECs), through local schools and colleges. Third-level colleges also provide a wide range of courses. If you are attending a third-level course you may be able to get a student grant. Community education groups throughout Ireland offer a variety of courses, catering for learners at all levels.

What about training courses?

If you are looking for a training course you can search online for FÁS training courses on the FÁS website. (FÁS is the National Training and Employment Authority.) FÁS training schemes include:

• Training courses in areas such as business administration, childcare, computers, driving, engineering, hairdressing, and software development. If you are unemployed, redundant or out of full-time education, you are eligible to take part in a FÁS course.
• Traineeship programmes which offers a mixture of on-the-job training with an employer and off-the job training in a FÁS Training Centre. These programmes are aimed at first-time job seekers or the unemployed.
• Community Training Centres are independent community-based organisations funded by FÁS to look after the training and employment needs of early school leavers.

If you worked in construction, manufacturing or other areas of the economy where employment levels are unlikely to recover to pre-recession levels you may be able to access targeted training courses. The Higher Education Springboard Programme provides higher education places for unemployed people. The places will be on a range of part-time courses from Levels 6 to 9 on the National Framework of Qualifications. Read more in our document on Third-level and retraining places for jobseekers.

Skillnets networks offer some training to eligible unemployed people. If you are unemployed you will not pay for this training and your social welfare benefits will not be affected. You can search for training courses on the Skillnets website.

Where can I find information about specialist training?

State agencies such as Fáilte Ireland (the National Tourism Development Authority), Bord Iascaigh Mhara (the Irish Sea Fisheries Board) and Teagasc (the Agriculture and Food Development Authority) offer a range of specialist courses in their particular commercial or industrial sectors. Some of these training courses are at third level and require you to have formal qualifications and to apply through the Central Applications Office as you would for any other third-level course.

The National Adult Literacy Agency (NALA) is a voluntary organisation that co-ordinates, organises training and develops policy on adult literacy and adult basic education work in Ireland.