Pat O'Neill (Fine Gael)

I, too, welcome the Minister to the House.

I welcome the introduction of the TÚS initiative as another important measure to stem the huge problem of unemployment that is the legacy of the last Government and I commend Minister, Deputy Burton, for her work in progressing this new programme.

Unemployment is a serious issue in Kilkenny, with in excess of 7,000 people in the county currently on the live register. Five young people have emigrated from the parish of Bennetsbridge in the past three weeks. Their loss is felt by everyone in the community, not least their families. In a small village, the emigration of five young people affects everyone. Their presence is missed from the local GAA and soccer clubs and from the various important little events that take place in a rural village throughout the year. It is a sad time for families and communities.

As I mentioned, the live register in Kilkenny is at a record high. I note that my county has been allocated only 80 community work placements under the TÚS programme which will be managed by Kilkenny Leader partnership for the Department of Social Protection which has overall responsibility for the scheme. I welcome that the work opportunities are to benefit the community and are to be provided by community and voluntary organisations in urban and rural areas. However, I am concerned that this programme, like so many programmes introduced by the last Government, is a little ad hoc and short term in nature. Moreover, I am disappointed that the TÚS programme is limited to the community and voluntary sector.

Having just come to this House from Kilkenny County Council, I am keenly aware of the huge pressures that local authorities are under in these difficult times. In Kilkenny, 150 staff have been let go, 75 of whom were outdoor staff. I am sure this situation is replicated in local authorities the length and breath of Ireland. I ask that the Minister to revisit the parameters of the TÚS scheme with a view to including local authorities in its remit. In recent times, with the visits of President Obama and Queen Elizabeth and with the Government's excellent initiatives in the jobs strategy, Ireland's role as a tourist destination is at the forefront of people's minds. However, we have some important improvement and maintenance work to carry out if we are to show our best side to visitors. As I mentioned, local authorities are feeling the pinch with the loss of staff, particularly outdoor staff. There remains a great deal of work to be done in terms of cleaning up litter, dealing with graffiti and so forth and I believe this programme could assist in this regard.

The TÚS scheme could also assist in dealing with issues arising from estate management. I ask that the Minister, Deputy Burton, examine these issues and to work with the Minister and Minister of State for the Environment, Community and Local Government, Deputies Hogan and Penrose, respectively, with a view to expanding this new scheme to include local authorities in its remit. There is an opportunity here for joined-up thinking.

Perhaps the Minister will clarify if it will be possible to increase the number of places on the programme available in Kilkenny and if every type of community group be entitled to register for TÚS, including local sports clubs such as the GAA? It is soul destroying for people to know that two days after having worked 364 days on this scheme they will be unemployed and will not be able to re-enter the scheme for three years. What will happen when participants complete their year in the scheme? Will they be eligible to participate in other schemes or will the Minister change the criteria of the scheme and extend the time of employment? Will participants be able to move to another community scheme? How does this scheme fit in with existing schemes aimed at the unemployed operated by the Department of Social Protection, including the community employment and rural social schemes? Will the Minister consider including on the scheme the long-term unemployed who are availing of jobseeker's allowance? Has the Department engaged with trade unions about the scheme? While I welcome the scheme I believe that with minor changes communities and unemployed could get greater gains from it. Does the Minister propose to review this scheme to put it on a stronger footing and to link it in more coherently with other programmes?

I would like to commend Leader in Kilkenny for its excellent community work and to thank the Minister for coming into the Seanad to discuss this matter today.