Catherine Connolly (Galway West, Independent)
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203. To ask the Minister for Employment Affairs and Social Protection the number of places approved nationwide for Tús schemes; the number of participants on such schemes; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [27817/20]

Heather Humphreys (Cavan-Monaghan, Fine Gael)
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Tús commenced operation in 2011 as a response to the high level of unemployment and the large numbers on the live register at that time.  It provides short-term work opportunities for those who are unemployed for more than a year, in community work placements. Tús is designed to break the cycle of unemployment and maintain work readiness, thereby improving a person’s opportunities to return to the labour market.  Participation on Tús also provides the additional benefit of working within the local community. There were 5,825 Tús places provided for in the 2020 budget

In March, 2020 the Department introduced a number of contingency measures on the employment support schemes in response to the Covid-19 emergency.  These measures included the suspension of recruitment and the extension of employment contracts for CE and Tús participants who were due to complete their contracts over the emergency period.

The Department's activation services recommenced in July and included the referral of long-term unemployed candidates to CE and Tús.  Department officials worked closely with Sponsoring Authorities and Implementing Bodies to arrange for CE and Tús participants, who had their contracts originally extended during the Covid-19 emergency, to commence leaving their schemes on a phased basis over recent months.

At end-August, there were 1,542 Tús placements available for new participants.  Department Case Officers are working closely with the Implementing Bodies to refer suitable long-term unemployed candidates for the available Tús places.

The Department continues to keep under review the overall operation of the Tús programme and is very aware of the significant number of Tús placements actively engaged in the delivery of valuable services to local communities throughout the country.