The Minister for Social Protection, Joan Burton T.D. has today (6th February 2013) announced details of the first tranche of additional 1,100 places on Tús – the community work placement initiative. This announcement will bring to just over 6,000 the total number of placements available on Tús. The additional allocations form part of the roll-out of 2,500 new placements announced as part of the Budget 2013 measures to underpin the Government’s efforts to support those who are long term unemployed.
This announcement comes as part of the roll out of an additional 10,000 work placements under a number of programmes and initiatives funded by the Department of Social Protection. Last month the Minister announced an additional 2,500 places for the Community Employment programme bringing the total places available on that programme to 25,300.
Minister Burton said: “This latest allocation for Tús forms part of the Department’s wider efforts to help jobseekers to become job-ready and to find employment, training or an educational opportunity. More than €1 billion will be spent by my Department this year on a range of interventions for jobseekers to acquire work experiences, skills and qualifications to enable them return to labour market.”
The additional places will target those who have been on the live register for over 12 months and are in receipt of a jobseeker’s payment from the Department of Social Protection. The remaining places announced in the Budget will be rolled-out on a phased basis during 2013.
Adding that spending has increased, Minister Burton said: “Employment support schemes have been granted additional funds in 2013 and total spending in this area of support for people who are unemployed has increased significantly from €958m in 2012 to €1.045 billion in 2013 with 10,000 additional work placements coming on board as well as additional training and educational opportunities being supported.”
The Minister continued: “Work on developing a job initiative with Local Authorities is progressing and I expect to announce a number of pilot projects with County Councils in the coming months.” This initiative was also announced in the Budget and will support 3,000 people in work initially.
Priority in this round of Tús placements has been to areas of the country where demand for work placement has been highest and where the local development company is able to deliver the placements quickly. Tús focuses on keeping a person work ready and providing additional supports to assist them back into the workforce or to pursue other training or educational opportunities. The duration of placement is limited to 12 months.
Note for Editors
Background
Tús was introduced in July 2011 and to the end of January 2013 some 7,400 people had commenced 12 months’ work with local development companies. Work placements are provided by community, voluntary and not-for-profit organisations and the local development company matches the skill set of participants to available placements. At the end of January 2013, 2,119 people had completed 12 month contracts. The variety of work placements provided reflects the broad nature of services provided by the community and voluntary sector. All administrative functions are undertaken by the local development company relieving this burden from the host organisation. Tús has a budget of €96 million in 2013.
Budget 2013
Minister Burton secured additional funding in Budget 2013 for 10,000 additional places across a range of programmes. JobBridge will receive 2,500 new places (total now available is 8,500), Tús, 2,500 (now 7,500) and Community Employment 2,000 (now 25,300). A new work placement initiative with local authorities is expected to support 3,000 people when fully operational.
Projected Expenditure on Activation Supports in 2013
2012
‘000 2013
‘000
Community Employment Programme…. €335,194 €351,550
Rural Social Scheme …. €45,660 €45,000
Tús - Community Work Placement Scheme…. €65,400 €96,200
Job Initiative …. €26,156 €25,100
Community Services Programme …. €45,400 €46,060
Back to Work Allowance …. €127,040 €126,400
National Internship Scheme - JobBridge…. €54,580 €81,760
Back to Education Allowance …. €198,521 €189,300
Other Employment Supports …. €59,702 €84,410
Totals: €957,653 €1,045,780
Allocation of Additional Placements
The additional allocations were determined following consultation with each of the 50 local development companies delivering Tús and taking into account the demand for placements locally. A total of just over 1,100 placements were awarded to 41 companies in this tranche.
Local Development Company County Additional New allocation
Carlow County Dev. Partnership Ltd. Carlow 40 120
Breffni Integrated Ltd. Cavan 20 100
Clare Local Dev. Co. Ltd. Clare 40 160
Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd. Cork 20 100
Comhar Chathair Chorcaí Teoranta Cork 20 140
South and East Cork Area Dev. Cork 40 180
West Cork Dev. Partnership Ltd. Cork 40 140
IRD Duhallow Ltd. Cork/Kerry 20 80
Ballyhoura Dev. Ltd. Cork/Limerick 20 100
Donegal Local Dev. Co Ltd Donegal 40 180
Inishowen Dev. Partnership Donegal 20 100
Ballyfermot Partnership Co. Dublin City 20 80
Canal Communities Partnership Dublin City 40 180
South Dublin County Partnership Dublin South 40 180
Southside Partnership DLR Dun Laoire Rathdown 20 200
Fingal Leader Partnership Co. Fingal/Dublin 20 160
Galway Rural Dev. Co. Ltd. Galway 40 180
North and East Kerry LEADER Partnership Teoranta Kerry 20 100
South Kerry Dev. Partnership Ltd. Kerry 20 80
Cill Dara ar Aghaidh Teoranta Kildare 40 220
Kilkenny LEADER Partnership Co Ltd Kilkenny 20 120
Laois Community & Enterprise Dev. Co. Ltd. Laois 20 120
Leitrim Integrated Dev. Co. Ltd. Leitrim 20 80
PAUL Partnership Limerick 20 100
West Limerick Resources Limerick 20 100
Longford Community Resources Longford 20 100
Louth LEADER Partnership Louth 40 220
Mayo North East LEADER Partnership Co. Teo. Mayo 20 120
South West Mayo Dev. Co. Ltd. Mayo 20 100
Údarás na Gaeltachta Mayo/Kerry/Galway/Donegal 20 140
Meath Community Rural & Social Dev. Partnership Ltd. Meath 40 120
Monaghan Integrated Dev. Ltd. Monaghan 20 100
Offaly Integrated Local Dev. Co. Ltd. Offaly 20 140
Roscommon Integrated Dev. Co. Ltd. Roscommon 20 100
Sligo LEADER Partnership Co. Ltd. Sligo 40 120
North Tipperary LEADER Partnership Tipperary 40 100
South Tipperary Dev. Co. Ltd. Tipperary 40 160
Waterford Area Partnership Waterford 20 120
Waterford LEADER Partnership Ltd. Waterford 20 100
Wexford Local Dev. Wexford 20 200
Wicklow Partnership Wicklow 40 140