I propose to take Questions Nos. 108 and 109 together.
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, the 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 12,308 internships having commenced since its launch in July 2011. 67% of these placements are in the private sector, 22% are in the public sector and 11% are in the community/voluntary sector. An interim evaluation of JobBridge found that 52.3% of those who have finished their internship are currently in paid employment. Tús has provided 6,780 work placements and supervisory positions since its introduction in July 2011. Given that nature of Tús, the number progressing to employment is not expected to be significant. To date, less than 200 people have left Tús to take up employment options. Both JobBridge and Tús are proving to be effective in meeting the objectives set for then.