Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail) | Oireachtas source

I welcome the opportunity to discuss this matter with the Minister. I have met him and his officials regarding it a couple of times. I thank them for giving of their time over the past year or more. It was one of the first issues I raised when I first joined the Dáil. I did so because of the importance of such schemes to individuals and communities, not just in my constituency of Kildare North, but elsewhere. This is a problem nationally, as I am sure the Minister is aware. It has also been raised by my colleagues, Deputies O'Dea and Ó Cuív.

We must examine the current Tús schemes and I want to determine with the Minister how their timeframes can be extended in certain circumstances. This matter is included in the programme for Government, which is welcome. The intention of these schemes is to reintroduce people to full and gainful employment. Unfortunately, that is not the outcome, and may never be, for all participants. We must focus on delivering improvements in that regard.

The system is not working well. Participants on Tús schemes are carrying out valuable work for their communities. The difficulty is that, although they must leave the schemes after a year, no one is coming through to replace them and allow their work to continue and their communities and hosts - football clubs, soccer clubs, athletics clubs, etc. - to gain. This problem is having a negative effect on participants, communities and groups. Participants are engaging in JobPath schemes and the like because they are not able to continue with Tús.

Will the Minister extend the Tús schemes for people in particular age brackets who know that, realistically, they will not be able to return to full-time employment but who nevertheless provide a much-valued social contribution to their schemes and communities? That contribution needs to be extended. I am unsure as to whether the problem in this regard is that unemployment is decreasing and people are not coming through or whether there is an issue with getting on lists, but the lists are not coming through. I engage with the hosts and scheme administrators on the ground. They are not getting the lists or a continuity of people, which has a detrimental effect on everyone involved.

Given the age profile in question - over 55, 57 or 60 years, for example - we need to consider extending the schemes for these individuals. The schemes have brought benefits and advantages, but they need to be reviewed in certain areas in order to help their participants. The current system is not working because of a major issue. If it is not addressed, I would be concerned for all involved. Some schemes have no participants. The main sufferers of that are the communities, groups and those participants who had to leave their schemes.

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