Financial Supports

Full Time Courses

Maintenance Grants

Students on PLC courses are eligible for Maintenance grants. These are means tested and vary with the distance traveled to the College. Application forms are distributed in the College and students apply to their local VEC. For further information consult: http://www.dublincity.ie/search.htm

Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS)

Students who are over 21, have been unemployed for 6 months or more, and are in receipt of a Social Welfare Allowance or signing for credits are eligible for the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme. This allows people to retain their social welfare benefits and return to full time education. They receive travel, meal, book and material allowances and may be eligible for a childcare allowance.

Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)

The Back to Education Allowance (BTEA) is a scheme for unemployed people, lone parents and people with disabilities who are getting certain payments from the Department of Social and Family Affairs. Participants must attend approved courses, will retain their social welfare benefits and may receive meal and travel allowances. Those signing for ‘credits’ may qualify but will not get a payment.

Part Time Courses

Back to Education Initiative (BTEI)

Free Tuition is offered to the Unemployed, FIS, Means-tested welfare, Medical card holders and their dependants. The social welfare payments and other payments and health board benefits to be covered by this arrangement will include persons who hold the benefits outlined below and their dependants:

One Parent Family Payment
Farm Assist
Deserted Wife’s Allowance/Benefit
Back to Work Allowance
Widow’s/Widower’s Non Cont. Pension
Job Seekers Benefit
Widow’s/Widower’s Cont. Pension
Job Seekers Allowance
Disability Allowance/Benefit
Family Income Supplement
Orphans Non-Cont. Pension
Social Economy Initiative
Old Age Non-Cont. Pension
Job’s Initiative Scheme
Old Age Cont. Pension
Community Employment Scheme
Invalidity Pension
Carers Allowance
Blind Pension
Medical Card

It should be noted that many of the beneficiaries listed continue to receive payments from the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs. However their continued payment is subject to their eligibility for the particular scheme (for instance in the case of unemployment payments that the persons concerned are still available for and actively seeking work, and that the course is likely to improve their chances of gaining employment).

Unwaged learners with less than upper second level education are exempt from fees.

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