Liam Twomey (Wexford, Fine Gael)
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Question 169: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason persons who have been trying to get full-time employment but can only get occasional work, are excluded from the Tús scheme in preference to persons who have not worked in any capacity; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16233/11]

Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 178: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she intends changing the eligibility to go on the new TÚS scheme either as a participant or a supervisor to include those who are fully unemployed and signing for credits but are not in receipt of a payment due to a spouse's or partner's income; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [16338/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 169 and 178 together.

The purpose of Tús is to focus on those people who are long-term unemployed. For this reason, eligibility is at present confined to those on the Live Register for 12 months and in receipt of jobseeker's allowance. Participants will, in the first instance, be identified by the Department of Social Protection by applying the following conditions. A person must be unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months, currently be in receipt of jobseeker's allowance, and be fully unemployed.

These provisions are to ensure a targeted approach to those currently affected by long-term unemployment. I have no plans to amend the criteria at this time. The operation of Tús, including the eligibility criteria, will be kept under review and will inform the evaluation process in due course.