Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 18 May 2021
95. Deputy Éamon Ó Cuív asked the Minister for Social Protection the number of places approved for the community employment scheme and the Tús scheme nationally; the number of participants on these schemes, respectively; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [25422/21]
View answerMy Department provides a range of social employment and training programmes that are targeted at long-term unemployed jobseekers. These supports include Community Employment and Tús.The aim of both schemes is to enhance the employability of disadvantaged and unemployed people, by providing work experience opportunities for participants. CE also provides valuable training opportunities for participants.The 2021 Budget for CE is €362.7 million which provides for approximately 22,668 CE placements. The Budget for Tús is €98.77 million which provides for approximately 5,825 Tús placements.At the end of April 2021 there were 19,371 participants on CE and 4,044 participants on Tús. The number of referrals to CE and Tus has been impacted by public health restrictions in place over the past year. It is anticipated that referrals will now begin to increase as the economy re-opens with the vaccine rollout.In addition, as part of the July Stimulus Package 2020, the Government announced 3,000 additional places on state employment programmes. The additional places will be distributed between CE and Tús. These additional places will provide additional valuable opportunities for long-term unemployed persons, including eligible long term unemployed persons whose employment is affected by the pandemic. They will support CE and Tús schemes in providing further services to local communities. The Department is working on the assignment and distribution of these new places.I trust this clarifies matters for the Deputy.
