VTOS
Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
VTOS is the main second-level adult education programme which allows unemployed people to keep their Social Welfare payment and return to education. VTOS is a full-time programme (30 hours per week - 6 hours per day for 5 days a week) and run by the VEC. VTOS consists of a range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.
The main courses available are:
- Junior Certificate Courses
- Leaving Certificate Courses
- Foundation Courses
- Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) Courses
- Special Skills training
Certification is available at a range of levels, including Junior Certificate, Leaving Certificate and FETAC/NCVA Foundation, Level 1, Level 2 and Level 3.
VTOS Aims
- To provide education and training opportunities for unemployed people
- To prepare people to go to employment or to other learning opportunities leading to paid employment
The range and content of courses vary and there are 5,000 annual places available nationwide on VTOS. VTOS courses are provided free of charge.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible you must be:
- Aged 21 or over And
- In receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) for 6 months or signing on for 6 months.
You may also qualify for VTOS if you are in receipt of other types of Social Welfare payments, including if you are in receipt of an adult dependant payment.
Payment on VTOS
- You will receive the equivalent of your Jobseeker's Payment - €188 for a single person.
- You will receive a training bonus of €20 if you have been in receipt of Jobseeker's Benefit (JB) or Jobseeker's Allowance (JA) or certain other Social Welfare payments for 12 months or more.
- You will not receive a payment if you are signining on for PRSI 'credits' only.
- You can work part-time or casually during your studies and this will not affect your payment
- You will receive a small lunch allowance and, depending on the distance between your home and the VTOS centre, you may be entitled to a travel allowance.Travel and meal allowances are paid at FÁS rates.
- People on VTOS may qualify for some financial assistance towards costs e.g. childcare.
- There are no course fees
- Books and materials are free of charge
Please note: If you are in receipt of JB or JA you will no longer have to 'sign-on'
Applying for VTOS / Further Information
To apply for VTOS or to get information on learning opportunities under VTOS, contact the VTOS co-ordinator at her / his local VTOS centre / college.
- To find the nearest VTOS centre to you please visit: VTOS Centre.
- Alternatively you can contact your local Vocational Education Committees (VECs) www.vec.ie.
Each VEC has a VTOS co-ordinator who can assist you with information on suitable courses.
