John Brady (Wicklow, Sinn Fein)
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290. To ask the Minister for Social Protection if he will extend the time a person can remain with a community and voluntary organisation under the Tús-work placement initiative where this is mutually agreeable or desirable. [18394/16]

Leo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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The purpose of Tús is the provision of short-term quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than one year in order to break the cycle of unemployment and to improve a person’s opportunities in returning to the labour market. Currently, there are no circumstances under which a person’s term on Tús can be extended.

The Tús budget for 2016 allows for 8,000 participants. Extending the period of participation beyond one year for current participants would reduce the number of placements available to other people who are long-term unemployed. The existing 12-month placement period on Tús is adequate to meet the objectives of the initiative whilst also ensuring that as many unemployed people as possible are able to benefit from it.

Tús was introduced as a direct response to the growth in the level of unemployment during the financial crisis. With the ongoing welcome reductions in the live register, a review of work schemes, including Tús, is necessary to ensure that the number and nature of schemes and the conditions governing participation on same continues to be appropriate. I will be considering all of these issues over the coming months.

I hope this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.