The Department of Social Protection funds and manages a number of interventions targeted at those on the live register or in receipt of certain social protection payments. Combined, some 35,400 placements and supervisory positions are provided across Community Employment (23,300), the Rural Social Scheme (2,730), Tús (5,250), the Job Initiative (including the part-time Job Initiative) (1,300) and the Community Services Programme (2,800). JobBridge, the national internship scheme, has a target of maintaining 6,000 internships and has made significant progress with 11,906 internships having commenced since its launch in July 2011. Tús has provided 6,617 work placement and supervisory positions since its introduction in July 2011. Both JobBridge and Tús are proving to be effective in meeting the objectives set for then. Consideration of extending both or either initiative can only be undertaken in the context of the forthcoming budget and the resources available to my Department.