Expand+The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vo...

Hide-The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme is an educational opportunities scheme for unemployed persons which is funded by the Department of Education and Science with assistance from the European Social Fund. The Scheme is operated through the Vocational Education Committees and provides a special range of courses designed to meet the education and training needs of unemployed people.

The aims of the scheme are:
- to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability

- to prepare people to go into paid employment or on to further opportunities leading to paid employment

Expand+Education: Applicants should have a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 3 when accessing a Level 4 programme. Applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education although no formal qualifications are r...

Hide-Education: Applicants should have a standard of knowledge, skill and competence equivalent to NFQ Level 3 when accessing a Level 4 programme. Applicants may have participated in primary and secondary education although no formal qualifications are required.

Aptitude: Applicants must have a motivation to learn, an interest in the subject and the ability to acquire the knowledge, skills and competencies set out in the course.

Previous Experience: Applicants must be able to demonstrate a moderate range of knowledge, skills and competencies relevant to the course, be able to work under direction with some ability to work on their own initiative.

Expand+Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Skills.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for c...

Hide-Eligibility criteria are determined by the Department of Education and Skills.

To qualify for VTOS a person must:
- be at least 21 years of age at the commencement of the course,

- be in receipt of an unemployment payment or signing for credits for at least 6 months*.

Also, the course must be provided or approved by the local VEC for the purposes of the VTOS scheme.

A limited number of places are available to persons in receipt of One Parent Family Payment, Disability Allowance, Illness Benefit, Blind Pension, Invalidity Pension, Deserted Wife's Benefit/Allowance, Widow's/Widower's Contributory/Non Contributory Pension and Prisoner's Wife's Allowance and to qualified spouses/partners of persons eligible to participate in VTOS.

Periods spent on VTOS, FS training schemes, Community Employment, Job Initiative, Youthreach or time in prison can count towards the 6 month qualifying period.

Students may avail of a training allowance, meal and travel allowance and child care support dependent upon student eligibility. Students between the ages of 21 and 25 years may qualify for increased training allowance, subject to verification by the Dept. of Social Protection.

Expand+VTOS offers adults a second chance at education by providing a range of courses that are aimed at improving a person's ability to gain employment or to progress into either Further or Higher education. VTOS programmes allow adults to explore the lear...

Hide-VTOS offers adults a second chance at education by providing a range of courses that are aimed at improving a person's ability to gain employment or to progress into either Further or Higher education. VTOS programmes allow adults to explore the learning opportunities open to them in order to raise their general educational level and to develop their vocational skills. Adults return to education in a supported environment, working with teachers who are experts in teaching adults. Such a learning environment aims to develop the whole person, with students becoming more self confident in their own abilities and more informed in their learning choices.

The Re-Start Your Learning programme aims to give people, who may have been away from education for a while, a gentle introduction back to full-time learning. Class sizes are small to encourage learners to develop their academic and personal skills with teachers who are dedicated and highly skilled in teaching adults. A range of subjects are covered, for example; Communications (including the chance to refresh written English skills), Everyday Maths Skills, Information Technology/Computing Skills, Spanish or French, Biology and much more. There may also be the opportunity to sit one Leaving Certificate subject in this year. This course is suited to anyone who wants to gain a good foundation of knowledge and to familiarise themselves with full-time education before moving on to the Leaving Certificate or Level 5 courses.