About Us
We offer a range of courses designed to meet the educational and training needs of primarily, but not exclusively, unemployed people allowing them to gain nationally recognised qualifications and avail of further career and employment support.
All our courses are certified and internationally recognised
The courses provided are delivered by certified professionals who will support you with your progression to further education and training
Our center is equipped with high-tech facilities ensure our learners get the most of their time here
VTOS Courses
- Are FREE of charge
- Allow you retain your social welfare benefits (even if you miss a day of class).
- Provide an increase to €232 for students aged 21—25 who are on an aged-reduced rate of payment.
- Qualify for National Childcare Scheme (NCS) formerly known as CETS.
- Provide meal and travel allowances.
- Provide the loan of a laptop for the duration of the course.
- Provide CV and interview preparation.
- Provide one to one meetings with an adult guidance counsellor.
- With a potential 390 CAO points available there is the opportunity of progression to Institutes of Technology.
- Provide Microsoft Office Specialist as an ad-on.
- Include relevant work experience and field trips.
- Include the opportunity to travel abroad for 2 weeks work experience under the Erasmus+ Programme – accommodation, travel and living expenses are covered.
- Utilise the local link bus service from Carrick on Shannon brings students to Drumshanbo town in the mornings and brings students back in the evening.
VTOS Dispersed
Eligibility
This course is not wholly exclusive to VTOS candidates as there is flexibility on the criteria of age (over 21), type of social welfare payment, if any, the person is receiving, and the period of unemployment (greater than 6 months), subject to individual circumstances.
- One is fully eligible for VTOS if you are:
- Aged 21 or over and
In receipt of one of the following Social Welfare payments for at least 6 months before the course begins:
- Job Seekers Allowance/Benefit
- Farm Assist
- One Parent Family
- Disability Allowance/Illness Benefit
- Invalidity Pension
- Blind Person Pension
- Widow/Widower(s) Pension
- Prisoners Wives Allowance
- Signing for Credits
- A Dependent Spouse of an eligible person
People receiving illness benefits should first contact their Social Welfare Office regarding the continuation of their illness benefit payment.
People in receipt of statutory redundancy but not in receipt of a qualifying payment for the required period may participate in VTOS courses after being made redundant.
Periods spent on Further Education Training courses, Community Employment schemes, Job Initiative, Youthreach programmes and time spent in prison can count towards the qualifying period.