Timmy Dooley (Clare, Fianna Fail)
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Question 322: To ask the Minister for Social Protection if consideration will be given to extending the period for people on Tús schemes for a further 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27925/12]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Tús is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide up to 5,000 short-term work opportunities for those have been fully unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months, and who are in receipt of jobseeker's allowance at the time of application. At the week ending the 1st June, 4,386 participants and 234 supervisors have been engaged in the provision of services to their communities. The purpose of Tús is the provision of quality work for those who are unemployed in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person's opportunities in returning to the labour market. I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the objectives of the initiative. It is also essential that we ensure that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from this initiative and this would not be facilitated by extending the duration of existing placements.