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+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+Overview
This one-year advanced course equips students with the skills and knowledge required to pursue a career in the catering industry. Students have the opportunity to gain a solid grounding in areas, such as Culinary Techniques, Health and Safe...

Hide-Overview
This one-year advanced course equips students with the skills and knowledge required to pursue a career in the catering industry. Students have the opportunity to gain a solid grounding in areas, such as Culinary Techniques, Health and Safety, and Producing a Culinary Event. In addition they will experience the highly energetic and creative environments of the hospitality sector. Each week of term, students spend three days in college and two days on work placement. The College has developed strong working relationships with the Irish Hotel Federation (IHF) and the Restaurant Association of Ireland (RAI), promoting continued employment opportunities for our graduates.

This course gives students the possibility to be selected for an Erasmus+ European Mobility Exchange placement (subject to funding). VTOS provides general education and training opportunities for unemployed adults, by enabling them to retain their Social Welfare entitlements whilst in full-timestudy.