Frank O'Rourke (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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444. To ask the Minister for Social Protection to review the duration of the Tús schemes, which are currently 12 months and extend them up to 18 to 24 months, to give consistency and continuity for the community groups and the persons placed on these schemes; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12789/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Tús provides short-term, work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year. It is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness thereby improving a person’s chances of returning to the labour market. The existing 12-month period of placement on Tús ensures that as many long-term unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from the initiative and I have no plans to change that.

Over the coming months, my Department will be examining all work programmes, including Tús, to ensure that the number and nature of these programmes continues to be appropriate given the ongoing welcome reduction in the numbers on the live register.