Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 338: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the details of the new Tús scheme are being relayed to local development companies and when it is expected this new scheme will come into operation. [2464/11]

Róisín Shortall (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 339: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the way in which the Tús scheme will operate; the way it will be promoted among community organisations and the way such organisations can gain access to the scheme. [2465/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 338 and 339 together.

A community work placement initiative, to be known as Tús, was launched by me on the 21st December 2010, an event to which all Local Development Companies were invited and to whom details were circulated after the launch. The aims of Tús are to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús will be delivered at local level by each of the Local Development Companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta and is built on the proven architecture of the Rural Social Scheme (RSS).

Work placements will be identified by the Local Development Companies within community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations operating in their area of operations. Local Development Companies already have significant responsibility and expertise in the delivery of supports for the community and voluntary sector under the Local and Community Development Programme funded by the Department of Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs. Local Development Companies have already been requested to promote Tús locally and to establish the level of interest in taking up this initiative.

My Department is currently preparing support material for Tús in co-operation with Local Development Companies through their national network. This support material will include a short guide to Tús focused on community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations and other support material. Each Local Development Company will also be provided with access to a small support budget which will enable local promotional activities to be undertaken.

Work has already begun on the roll-out of Tús across the country with the first placements expected towards the end of February when recruitment and other procedures have been completed.