John Lyons (Dublin North West, Labour)
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Question 187: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of Tús programme places available locally in Dublin north-west; the community organisations availing of those places; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [21693/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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2057Tús is a community work placement initiative with the objective of providing up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative will improve the work readiness of people on the Live Register with a clear focus on providing work placements. The initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas – referred to as Implementing Bodies. Each Implementing Body has been given an allocation based on the level of persons on the Live Register meeting the criteria for Tús within its area of operation.

Three Implementing Bodies cover Dublin North West with an allocation of 180 participants and nine supervisory staff. These bodies are charged with the phased roll-out of Tús in their area with the aim of achieving full implementation by the end of the first quarter in 2012. Responsibility for promoting, identifying and evaluating suitable work placements rests with each Implementing Body. A central database of organisations applying to offer work placements is not held. I have had enquiries made with the relevant Implementing Bodies and they have indicated that 53 organisations have expressed an interest in providing 96 work placements. The total number of work placements evaluated to date by the Implementing Bodies is 40 with 24 of these ready to receive personnel.