About Us
We offer a range of courses designed to meet the educational and training needs, allowing you 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 educational facilities, based in Carrick and Drumshanbo are equipped with high-tech facilities to ensure our learners get the most of their time here.
Financial Supports
Costs, Fees and Finance
Leitrim College of Further Education and Training aims to make education as accessible as an affordable as possible. Your tuition, registration, examination and awarding body costs are all free.
The cost of uniforms, equipment, classroom materials for some courses will incur charges.
VTOS Funding
You may be entitled to join on of our courses under the VTOS programme. To be fully eligible for VTOS, you must be over 21 years of age, in receipt of a qualifying social welfare payment and be at least 156 days unemployed before the course begins. There is some flexibility on these criteria subject to individual circumstances.
Qualifying social welfare payments include:
- 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.
Funding under the VTOS programme:
- Allows you retain your social welfare benefits (even if you miss a day of class).
- Provides an increase to €244 for students aged 21 – 25 who are on an aged-reduced rate of payment.
- Qualifies for National Childcare Scheme (NCS) formerly known as CETS.
- Provides meal and travel allowances.
SUSI PLC Maintenance Grant Scheme
These means-tested maintenance grants are available to eligible students attending approved full-time courses of further education, in approved Post Leaving Certificate (PLC) centres. Applications are made online to Student Universal Support Ireland (SUSI) through www.studentfinance.ie
Student Grant (SUSI)
1. Eligible: Learners who have not previously completed a course at this level, or higher (must be progressing in your education – NFQ level).
2. Note: Means tested.
3. How to Apply: Online at www.susi.ie. Learners can check to see if they are eligible using the SUSI Eligibility Reckoner on the SUSI website.
Back to Education Allowance (BTEA)
The Back to Education Allowance allows those in receipt of certain social welfare payments to retain payments whilst participating in approved full-time further education and training courses. See www.welfare.ie or www.studentfinance.ie for further details.
Back to Education Allowance
- Eligible: All over 21 years of age on qualifying social welfare payment for a minimum of 3 months (78 days). Aged 18-20 and been out of the formal education system for at least 2 years and receiving a qualify social welfare payment for the required time may also qualify.
- Note: For those going back to education and moving off a social welfare payment. It is learners responsibility that they must inform their Social Welfare office that they are starting a course.
- How to Apply: At their local Social Welfare Office.