Michael McGrath (Cork South Central, Fianna Fail)
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409. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she will review the situation whereby a person is only permitted on a Tús scheme for a maximum period of 12 months; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8209/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was initially set up to provide up to 5,000 short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. This initiative is being delivered through the network of local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta. 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 whilst also ensuring that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from it. There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months and I believe it is not in the interest of any participant that work placements of this nature extend for prolonged periods of time.