Éamon Ó Cuív (Galway West, Fianna Fail)
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130. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if she intends changing the rule that participants on the TÚS scheme can only participate on the scheme for a period of 12 months; her views on whether there would be a benefit if participants could remain on the scheme for a further period; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [8723/14]

Joan Burton (Dublin West, Labour)
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Tús, the community work placement initiative introduced during 2011, was set up to provide 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. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities of returning to the labour market.

The duration of the Tús contract was set to reflect a number of inter-related elements. These include (i) the need to ensure that limited numbers of placements available are opened to those on the Live Register, (ii) that weaknesses identified in other work programmes resulting from longer duration placements are not replicated with Tús, (iii) optimisation of the resources available and (iv) how Tús fits with the objectives set out in the Government’s activation policies in Pathways to Work.

I consider the existing 12-month period on Tús to be adequate to meet the programme’s objectives. It also ensures that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from the initiative. There are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús will be extended beyond 12 months. Opportunities are available on community employment where a person is interested in pursuing a work placement that may have a longer duration in order to completed certified training. Time spend on Tús is considered eligible for accessing community employment. As of the week ending 10th January 2014, 7,121 participants were working and in receipt of a payment on Tús. An additional 371 full-time supervisory/team leader personnel have been engaged by the implementing bodies for Tús.