Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 156: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the discussions she has had with Departments, local authorities and other State agencies in relation to providing matching materials money for work to be carried out by the rural social scheme, TÚS, and community employment schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8158/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that the rural social scheme, Tús and the community employment programme are delivered locally either through local development companies or community based sponsor groups which have significant linkages to local authorities and State agencies. Primary responsibility for the provision of resources in the forms of materials or similar inputs is a matter for the sponsoring organisations. The processes and engagement between local authorities, state agencies and sponsoring organisations involved in the delivery of these programmes is an essential element in ensuring that the employment supports provided by the Department is matched by local efforts to provide the funds required for materials and similar inputs. Should these local processes prove to need improvement, I will consider if a more structured engagement with local authorities and State agencies is required.

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 157: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of participants on the TÚS programme broken down by sponsor companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta; when she expects the full complement of 5,000 places to be filled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8159/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 158: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the progress that has been made in rolling out the special module of the TÚS scheme for coaching, with the sporting organisations; the number employed by each organisation; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8160/11]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 162: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to change or amend the TÚS community work placement initiative to ensure that similar entry candidates to the rural social scheme and community employment would apply to TÚS which now consists of a workforce programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8222/11]

Tommy Broughan (Dublin North East, Labour)
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Question 163: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to change or amend the TÚS community work placement initiative so that similar training resources to the rural social scheme and community employment will apply to TÚS; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8223/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 157, 158, 162, and 163 together.

The Minister for Finance announced the introduction of a community work placement initiative for up to 5,000 persons in his Budget statement to Dáil Éireann on the 7th December 2010. Tús will provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. Tús will be delivered at local level by local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta. The allocation to each company is set out in the table.

Promotion of Tús to potential work placement providers has been underway for some weeks as part of a process of identifying suitable work placements and local development companies are currently recruiting supervisory staff. My department continues to work with proposals from sporting organisations in respect of games development opportunities and a significant allocation is available where Tús matches the objectives of the sporting organisation. The random selection of participants by my Department will commence once the necessary arrangements have been put in place by the local development companies and will take some months to reach the target of 5,000 placements.

There are a number of significant differences in the aims, focus, participant selection and operation of Tús and those of the community employment programme and the rural social scheme. I have no proposals to introduce a training element or to provide for self selection or to make any other changes to this initiative at this time.