Regina Doherty (Meath East, Fine Gael)
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Question 296: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the number of community work places that have been allocated under the Tús scheme to Ashbourne, County Meath; the number of these places that currently remain unfilled; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [31369/11]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Tús is a community work placement initiative which will provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year when fully operational. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas.

Meath has been allocated 100 participant placements plus 5 supervisory positions. Meath Community Rural & Social Development Partnership Limited has been tasked with the delivery of Tús in County Meath. To date, over 100 work placements in community and voluntary organisations have been identified in Meath with half of these currently available to be filled. Allocations are not made to specific towns; however, each local development company is required to have regard to the level of local service needs, and to achieve a balance of placements across their operation areas and sectors of activity. As part of the initial roll-out phase, the Partnership company is currently employing 21 people; 17 people have been assigned to other training or are not in a position to take up a work placement at this time. The remaining placements are due to be filled over the coming months with full delivery to be achieved by the end of March 2012.