Tús - community work placement initiative

Information

The Tús initiative is a community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people. The work opportunities are to benefit the community and are to be provided by community and voluntary organisations in both urban and rural areas. The Tús initiative is managed by local development companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta for the Department of Social Protection, which has overall responsibility for the scheme.

It was announced that 5,000 places in the Tús scheme would become available during 2011. Unemployed people who are eligible to participate in the scheme are selected and contacted by the Department of Social Protection – see 'Selection process' below.

Type of project

All the work carried out by participants in the Tús scheme must benefit the community.

The types of project eligible for the scheme may include:

• Energy conservation work in homes and community buildings
• Social care of all age groups and people with disabilities
• Caretaking, securing, supervising of community buildings and spaces
• Renovation of community and sporting facilities, including the regeneration and enhancement of community, recreation and sporting spaces
• Work in support of cultural and heritage activities
• Community administration and community event management
• Coaching for sporting activities
• Repair of equipment for the Third World – for example, farm tools, bicycles, computers, sewing machines, health equipment

Allocation of places

The 5,000 places on the scheme are allocated to community and voluntary organisations involved in the delivery of local services in urban and rural areas – see 'Community and voluntary organisations' below. The allocation is based on the numbers of eligible unemployed people in each local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta area.

Participants

To be eligible to participate in the Tús scheme you must:

• Have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and "signing on" on a full-time basis; and
• Have been receiving a jobseeker's payment (Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance) from the Department of Social Protection for at least 12 months; and
• Be currently receiving Jobseeker's Allowance.

Selection process

Unemployed people who are eligible for the scheme will be identified and contacted by their social welfare local office and offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme.

If they agree to participate in the Tús scheme they will be referred to their local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta where they will be recruited for a suitable placement when it becomes available. You can read more about the selection process on welfare.ie.

As there only limited places available on the scheme, not all eligible unemployed people will be contacted.

Other work

Participants on Tús can take up other employment provided it does not interfere with the work and times of the Tús work placement. If participants are offered alternative work or training they may terminate their work placement contract if they wish.

Refusal of work placement

Under the National Employment Action Plan someone getting Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA) is required to take up work opportunities such as the offer of a Tús work placement. If they refuse a work opportunity without good reason, they may have their social welfare payment reduced or terminated. If, following a refusal of a placement, someone’s payment is reduced or terminated they may appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals office within 21 days.

Working conditions

Participants will work for 19 ½ hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months. They receive the same statutory annual leave and public holiday entitlement as other employees.

When the placement finishes, they should sign on again with their local social welfare office. They cannot participate in the Tús scheme again for 3 years.

Pay

The payment is the full Jobseeker’s Allowance rate plus €20 a week. Participants aged under 25 will be paid the maximum rate of Jobseeker’s Allowance plus €20. They will retain any secondary benefits and the medical card provided they are still eligible.

*If the participant's payment from the Department of Social Protection included an Increase for a Qualified Adult (IQA), he or she will receive the maximum rate payable in respect of a qualified adult.

A participant will be paid the full Increase for a Qualified Child (IQC) if they qualify for an IQA or if they are parenting alone. If they do not qualify for an IQA, they may receive a half-rate QCI.

Tax and PRSI

The Tús payment is taxable but the amount payable depends on individual circumstances.

Class A PRSI contributions will be paid for all participants. Those earning more than €352 a week will pay a PRSI contribution.

Participants on the Tús scheme are exempt from the Universal Social Charge.

Community and voluntary organisations

The work placements are proposed and provided by community and voluntary organisations. The organisations must provide good quality work opportunities that are of benefit to the community. Organisations with a proposed work placement should register with the local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta in their area. They will be asked to submit a proposal detailing the work and the number of participants requested. The local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta will assess and make a decision on the proposal.

Costs

The community and voluntary organisations are generally responsible for the costs which are not covered by Tús and they are required to make a contribution. In certain circumstances there may be some funding available from the local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta.

How to apply

There is no application process for unemployed people who are eligible for this scheme. Potential participants will be selected and contacted by their social welfare local office.

Community and voluntary organisations interested in providing Tús work placement opportunities should register with their local development company or their Udarás na Gaeltachta office.

You can find more detailed information about Tús in this list of frequently asked questions on the website of the Department of Social Protection.