Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
If you are over 21, unemployed and have been getting certain social welfare payments for at least 6 months you can apply for the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) scheme. The Scheme provides a range of courses to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people. It gives participants opportunities to improve their general level of education, gain certification, develop their skills and prepare for employment, self-employment and further education and training. VTOS is operated through the vocational education committees (VECs) and it is aimed in particular at unemployed people who are early school leavers.
What kind of courses are available?
The courses range from basic education and training to advanced vocational training and there is a wide choice of subjects available. The courses are full-time, about 30 hours a week (for example, 6 hours a day for 5 days) and can last for up to 2 years. Many of the courses lead to qualifications such as the Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate and the FETAC awards at Level 3, 4, and 5 on the National Framework of Qualifications. You can find a list of VTOS courses on the Qualifax website.
How do I qualify for VTOS?
You may qualify for the VTOS scheme if you are aged 21 years or over and you have been getting one of the following for at least 6 months:
- Jobseeker’s Benefit or Jobseeker’s Allowance (or signing for credits) or
- One-Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit* or Invalidity Pension or
- Blind Person’s 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 (conditions may apply in the case of these payments) or
- Are the dependent spouse, civil partner or cohabitant of an eligible person
Periods spent on FÁS training courses, Community Employment Schemes, Job Initiative, Youthreach programmes and time in prison can count towards the qualifying period.
* If you are claiming Illness Benefit, you should contact your local social welfare office about exemption/entitlement to continuation of your Illness Benefit payment.
How much can I get?
If you are getting Jobseeker’s Assistance or Jobseeker’s Benefit, you will get a training allowance at a rate equivalent to the maximum rate of Jobseeker’s Benefit. VTOS training allowances are not taxable.
If you are getting one of the other eligible social welfare payments you will get a payment equivalent to the maximum rate of your current social welfare payment. You will continue to receive it and all other payments from the Department of Social Protection.
There are no fees for VTOS courses and you will get free books and materials at the start of the course. Depending on your individual circumstances you may be eligible for the following:
- Meal allowance
- Travel allowance
- Free childcare place for your child under the Childcare Employment and Training Support (CETS) scheme,
- A training bonus payment of €20 if you have been getting an eligible social welfare payment for at least 12 months before starting the VTOS scheme.
More detailed information about the rates
of payment for VTOS participants is on the Department of Social Protection
website.
How do I apply?
You can participate in the VTOS scheme in one of the following ways; you can be either:
- A core VTOS student attending a VTOS centre or adult education centre or
- A dispersed VTOS student, usually attending a Post-Leaving Certificate (PLC) course in a further education college.
You can read a list
of frequently asked questions about VTOS on the VTOS website.
Contact the VTOS
co-ordinator at your local VTOS centre to find out more about the VTOS
courses available.
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Contact Us
You can contact the Citizens Information Phone Service on 0761 07 4000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 9pm) and the Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) on 0761 07 2000 (Monday to Friday, 9am to 8pm)
