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: These Level 4 programmes are all targeted at adults and young adults who may: 1) be progressing from Level 3 programmes 2) be recently unemployed or made redundant and need to re-skill or up skill. 3) be low-skilled with few previous quali...

Hide-Education: These Level 4 programmes are all targeted at adults and young adults who may: 1) be progressing from Level 3 programmes 2) be recently unemployed or made redundant and need to re-skill or up skill. 3) be low-skilled with few previous qualifications want to develop the skills and capacity to progress further in education, training and/or employment have qualifications at this level but need to re-enter education to re-establish confidence and consolidate core skills It is expected that learners will come from a wide variety of social and cultural backgrounds and with a range of needs.

Aptitude: The learner will have the capacity to take some responsibility for his/her own learning and demonstrate autonomy in a classroom setting where there is supervision provided.

Previous Experience: The learner will have the capacity to take some responsibility for his/her own learning and demonstrate autonomy in a classroom setting where there is supervision provided.

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.

Expand+VTOS is a full-time programme (academic year) for Adults aged 21 and over, who are in receipt of a qualifying DSP payment, or the spouse or partner of a qualified adult. Courses are free and you get to keep your DSP payment. Childcare Supports are al...

Hide-VTOS is a full-time programme (academic year) for Adults aged 21 and over, who are in receipt of a qualifying DSP payment, or the spouse or partner of a qualified adult. Courses are free and you get to keep your DSP payment. Childcare Supports are also offered.

The purpose of this award is to enable the learner to develop the relevant knowledge, skill and competence in a broad range of employment and personal skills which enable employment, under direct supervision, in a variety of sectors, or progression to further education or training.

The total credit value required for this award is 90.

In addition to the compulsory components a suite of electives are offered, both certified and non-certified, to support you in achieving your major award, learning or general interest. These electives are offered dependent on resources and funding.