Specially trained officers should be available in every social welfare office to give advice and information to people who wish to return to education, a study published yesterday has urged.
The study by the adult education body, Aontas, found that most social welfare recipients who availed of the Government-funded Back to Education scheme had enhanced their job prospects.
"Everything to Gain" was one of two reports commissioned by the Department of Social, Community and Family Affairs on "second-chance education" for the unemployed and those on lone parent assistance.
The reports were launched yesterday by the Minister, Mr Ahern, who said 10,000 people were availing of second-chance education opportunities, including 5,000 on the Vocational Training Opportunities Scheme (VTOS).
The second report launched, "College Knowledge", which was prepared by NUI Maynooth, examined the experience of mature students involved in full-time university study.
Mr Ahern said progress had been made on many of the studies' findings, including the standardisation of the rate of payment for those in the Back to Education scheme.