Maureen O'Sullivan (Dublin Central, Independent)
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Question 219: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she has been able to support under the jobs initiative scheme a project (details supplied) which is working closely with many networks and local employment services to assist the long term unemployed to establish their own businesses. [29763/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The Deputy will be aware that my Department now operates a number of programmes and interventions to support unemployed people in getting back to work. The organisation mentioned may qualify for support under a number of initiatives operated by my Department. The Jobs Initiative currently supports around 1,400 people in work but has not been open for recruitment for some years. Some 23,300 places have been allocated to community employment nationally and more information about how an organisation could benefit under this scheme is available from FÁS.

The national internship programme, JobBridge, is currently being rolled out and operates across the private, public and voluntary sectors under which eligible employers within the sectors may offer suitable internships. Tús, the community work placement initiative, has begun to roll-out nationally and this is being delivered by the Dublin Employment Pact in the North and South Inner City areas of Dublin. JobBridge and Tús, when fully operational will provide 5,000 internships and work placement opportunities each. Further information on all of these programmes and schemes is available on my Department's website, www.welfare.ie.

Question No. 220 withdrawn.