Continuing education and training

Information

There are lots of ways to continue your education, further your training and acquire new skills.

If you are unemployed or looking for your first job, or if you are looking to change direction in your career, you can choose from a large number of education and training programmes funded by FÁS, the vocational educational committees (VECs), and various Government departments and agencies. These offer a wide range of full-time and part-time options so you can choose the one that best suits your circumstances.

Eligibility conditions and training allowances vary widely from course to course, so you should check the details of each course carefully.

You may also wish to upskill if you are already working, especially if you have been put on short time.

In addition to the options listed below, you may also be able to access education and training if you are involved in a youth group, a community group or some other form of voluntary activity. Ask the co-ordinator of the group in which you are active for information regarding education and training opportunities within that organisation.

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS): offers you an opportunity to return to full-time education if you are an unemployed adult or in receipt of certain benefits. One aim of the scheme is to give unemployed people education and training opportunities which will develop their employability. Another aim is to prepare people to go to paid employment or to further opportunities leading to paid employment.

FÁS training courses offer you an opportunity to develop or upgrade your skills in the commercial and industrial sectors if you are unemployed or redundant. You can search online for FÁS training courses on the FÁS website.

FÁS traineeships offer you a mixture of on-the-job training with an employer and off-the job training in a FÁS Training Centre if you are either a first-time jobseeker or unemployed.

FÁS work placement programme offers work experience and you may be able to keep your social welfare payment.

The Higher Education Springboard Programme will provide 6,000 higher education places for unemployed people in 2011. The programme is aimed at people who have previously been employed in construction, manufacturing or other sectors of the economy where employment levels are unlikely to recover to pre-recession levels. The courses will start in autumn 2011. Read more about Springboard in our document on Third-level and retraining places for jobseekers.

Skillnets Ltd enables groups of private sector companies to set up training networks to deliver a range of accredited and/or industry-recognised programmes. In the 2010 programme, Skillnets networks offer some training to eligible unemployed people. If you are unemployed you will not pay for this training and your social welfare benefits will not be affected. You can search for training courses on the Skillnets website.

Youthreach: If you are between 15 and 20 years of age and have left school without any formal qualifications, the Youthreach programme will provide you with opportunities for basic education, personal development, vocational training and work experience.

Other agencies: Agencies such as Fáilte Ireland, Bord Iascaigh Mhara (BIM), Teagasc, Coillte and the Crafts Council of Ireland offer you a range of specialist courses in their specific areas of work.

FIT (Fastrack to IT): This scheme provides targeted information technology training for people who are getting certain social welfare payments or signing for credits. Courses include office administration, web design and programming, broadband communications and PC maintenance. You can find out more about the training courses on the FIT website.

Senior Traveller Training Centres: If you are a member of the Traveller community and are aged over 18, you can gain practical skills and improve your literacy, numeracy and other skills at one of the 33 Senior Traveller Training Centres throughout Ireland, which are run by the Department of Education and Skills through the VECs. The centres aim to provide Travellers with the knowledge, skills and attitudes required to successfully make the transition to work and adult life, and to participate fully in their communities. The centres also offer educational programmes which are accredited by the Further Education and Training Awards Council (FETAC).

Department of Justice and Equality workshops: If you are coming to education and training from the prison system or as an alternative to the prison system, you may find a suitable course under this scheme operated by the Department of Justice and Equality.

Night classes: Self-funded educational opportunities are available to you through a range of night courses organised by your local VEC, FÁS training centres and many of the colleges and universities throughout Ireland.