Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)
The Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS) offers unemployed adults the opportunity to return to full-time education while retaining their full social welfare entitlements together with a meal and in certain cases, a travel allowance.
There are a limited number of VTOS places. Applications are processed on a first come basis.
Requirements
To qualify, you must be over 21 and be in receipt of any of the following for over 6 months (periods spent on F.A.S. or Community Employment Schemes can also count).
- Unemployment Assistance U/A
- Unemployment Benefit U/B
- Lone Parent Allowance
- Disability Allowance
- Credits
Dependent spouses of long term unemployed adults also qualify
In addition to your social welfare entitlements, which you retain, you will also be entitled to:
- Meal allowances
- Travel allowances (if you live three miles or more from the College)
- Books and materials will be provided for the duration of the course
- Course and exam fees paid
VTOS gives unemployed adults the opportunity to:
- Return to full time education without losing benefit
- Develop new skills
- Gain certification at a range of levels
- Find employment
The VTOS scheme in Senior College Dun Laoghaire is funded by the ESF, administered by the Department of Education & Science and operated by Dun Laoghaire VEC.
The courses provided under the scheme are full-time and may be up to two years duration.
The main objectives of the scheme are:
1. To give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will enhance their employability.
2. To prepare people for paid employment or to further opportunities leading to paid employment.
Contact Information
A prospective VTOS student may enrol for any course advertised in the College brochure. For further information please contact the College VTOS Coordinator vtos@scd.ie, your local Social Welfare, VEC or the Department of Education and Science.