FÁS Community Training Centres

Information

If you are between the ages of 16 and 21 years and have left school early without any formal qualifications, the FÁS Community Training Centres offer you the opportunity to improve your basic skills and take part in vocational training. The training provided is part of the Youthreach programme and it is mainly for early school leavers aged 16 to 21. In some cases young people aged up to 25 can also participate in the training - see 'Rules' below.

The training on offer varies from centre to centre, often depending on the facilities available. If you have an interest in a particular career, you should look around for a centre offering a suitable course rather than applying automatically to the centre nearest to you. During your training, you will concentrate on a core area of your choice. However, basic subjects, such as English, Maths and, in many cases, computers, are generally covered by all trainees. Opportunities to improve literacy and numeracy are available in all centres.

The course is full-time. It usually lasts for one year, although you can extend in certain circumstances, with a maximum of 2 years. If you complete your course successfully, you will be awarded with an appropriate qualification, such as a FETAC award, giving you greater opportunities to find work or move into more advanced training. Some trainees also choose to sit for Junior or Leaving Certificate qualifications. While you are attending a Community Training Centre you will receive a training allowance.

However, Budget 2010 introduced a new rule, whereby you will not get a training allowance when you start a FÁS course unless you are entitled to a qualifying payment, such as Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit.

Rules

You are eligible for a place on a Community Training Centre programme if you are between the ages of 16 years and 21 years. While this is the priority group for Community Training Centres, they can provide for other young people under the age of 25 who are disadvantaged and unemployed, with agreement from FÁS.

Rates

In 2010 trainees aged 16 years of age are entitled to €79.90 per week. Those aged 17 years are entitled to €99.80. Trainees aged 18 years are entitled to €196.00.

(However, following Budget 2010, you will not get a training allowance when you start a FÁS course unless you are entitled to a qualifying payment, such as Jobseeker's Allowance or Jobseeker's Benefit.)

There is further information about training allowances on the FÁS website.

You will also get a training bonus of €31.80 per week, if you:

• Have been getting Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance for 12 months or more
• Are progressing from at least 12 months on a FÁS Community Employment Scheme or a FÁS Job Initiative Programme
• Have been involved in a combination of the above. For example, if you have been getting Jobseeker's Benefit for 6 months and have been on a Community Employment Scheme for another 6 months of the previous year.
• Are a person with a disability who is not getting Illness Benefit or Invalidity Pension

How to apply

Call into your local FÁS Community Training Centre  or Youthreach centre and talk to staff there about your training needs and interests. Staff members are available at these centres to help you with application forms if necessary.