Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 118: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if it is appropriate for TUS funding, including the administrative portion of the funding, to be used to supplement the salaries of partnership board management such as CEOs or deputy CEOs; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19610/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Tús – the community work placement initiative is progressing to have 5,000 people who have been unemployed for more than one year in work placements provided by community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations in the coming months. Tús is delivered at local level by the 52 local development companies and by Údarás na Gaeltachta in Gaeltacht areas. As part of the arrangements with local development companies, a service fee is paid by the Department to meet the additional costs of delivering Tús in each of their operational areas. This service fee is based on the number of placements the company has accepted to manage and is designed to ensure that direct and indirect costs involved in the delivery of Tús are not borne by other programmes operated by the companies. To this end, each company is required to apportion indirect elements of its corporate cost base to Tús in line with arrangements for other programmes the company delivers. These costs will include board, legal, accounting, audit, management, including a proportion of the CEO/manager salary, stationary, insurance, communication, rents, and other office costs. In limited cases, some element of the service fee may be used to.

Pearse Doherty (Donegal South West, Sinn Fein)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Social Protection her plans to allow independent community sector organisations operating as implementing bodies for the TÚS programme; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [19612/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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The implementation of Tús is managed at a local level by local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta (implementing bodies), a total of 53 companies. Given their experience to date, dealing with social inclusion and the management of public funds and delivery of community services, this is viewed as the most cost effective way of implementing Tús.

The implementing bodies are responsible for all matters relating to employment and are recognised as the employer in all cases. They are responsible for indemnifications, supervision, discipline and ensuring that all relevant health & safety requirements are implemented and appropriate protective clothing and training is provided. Implementing bodies work with independent community sector organisations to identify work opportunities and develop work plans.

I have no plans to alter the existing arrangements for the local delivery of Tús.