I propose to take Questions Nos. 177 to 179, inclusive, together.
Tús, the community work placement initiative, provides up to 8,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Eligibility for Tús is confined to those on the live register and receiving a jobseekers allowance payment for at least 12 months. These requirements ensure a targeted approach to those jobseekers on the live register that are currently long-term unemployed and allows for resources to be made available to the largest number of jobseekers. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness with the aim of improving a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond twelve months and it is not in the interest of any participant that such work placements extend for prolonged periods of time.
The restriction of re-engagement on Tús is to enable participants to engage in active job search and to engage with other activation activities provided by the Department, including training coupled with work experience, as provided by the Community Employment scheme. It should be noted that the Department works the implementing bodies to ensure that the full range of employment and activation supports is available to those who complete their Tús placement.
At present, there are no plans to change the eligibility criteria for participation on Tús. It is considered that the existing criteria are adequate to meet the programme’s objectives.