Sandra McLellan (Cork East, Sinn Fein)
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Question 280: To ask the Minister for Social Protection the reason a person taking part in a community employment scheme was disqualified from applying for the position of a Tus supervisory role; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [30452/12]

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 who 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.

Currently, under the initiative, there are 4,271 participants and 230 supervisors engaged in the provision of services to their communities. Recruitment to supervisory positions is conducted by local development companies and governed by the same eligibility criteria as applies to the random selection of participants. This requires that a candidate must have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and be in receipt of a jobseeker's allowance payment at the time of application.

For this reason, persons who are engaged in community employment or who had breaks in the period of unemployment may not be eligible. As recruitment to all supervisory positions is nearing completion, I am not in a position to alter the criteria. The Deputy will appreciate that the criteria ensures that those who have more limited access to work are being prioritised for these opportunities.