Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 19 June 2025
330. Deputy Catherine Connolly asked the Minister for Social Protection his plans to provide for more flexibility around the TÚS scheme to allow those under 20 years and unemployed to participate, to reduce the qualifying period for those aged 20-25 to six months, to reduce the mandatory minimum period of time between TÚS placements to two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [26331/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraTús is a community work placement initiative which aims to provide short-term work opportunities for those unemployed customers. The focus of Tús is on jobseekers that are unemployed for twelve months or more, and the targeted activation of this cohort aims to provide additional assistance and a renewed impetus to these jobseekers who could otherwise be in danger of falling into persistent long-term unemployment. Any changes to the qualifying period could undermine the aim of Tús which is to support those who are long term unemployed.
My Department has made a number of changes to the Tús eligibility criteria which were implemented to increase overall participant numbers on the programme: -
• a pilot project has been introduced for 18-year-olds who are fully unemployed, in receipt of Jobseekers Allowance and who have been identified as having a low probability of securing employment. They are now provided with immediate access to the Tús programme.
• the eligibility criteria was also amended to include persons 18 years of age or over and in receipt of Disability Allowance. The extension of Tús to people in receipt of Disability Allowance on a self- referral basis, opens possibilities to people who have not been able to avail of the scheme to date.
• The Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BoTP) payable to eligible persons who resides in Designated Accommodation Centres, is now a qualifying payment for Tús. Customers in receipt of a BoTP payment may self-refer to Tús once they satisfy the 12-month eligibility criteria.
The policy changes introduced will provide disadvantaged customers with an opportunity to engage in meaningful work placements within their local communities while also assisting local Implementing Bodies (IB) with the ongoing delivery of their vital community services.
A minimum period of three years between Tús placements is in place to allow participants who have not secured employment sufficient time to actively engage with the labour market. If they remain unemployed in the year following the completion of their Tús placement, they may be eligible for further employment supports from the Department including Back to Education Allowance, Back to Work Enterprise Allowance and Community Employment. Any reduction in the three-year rule for re-participation needs to be considered in the wider context of unemployment levels and overall pressures in the labour market.
Both the Government and I remain fully committed to supporting and improving Tús and other activation schemes, to better support eligible participants and to acknowledge the important services they provide to local communities across the country. The eligibility criteria for the Tús scheme will continue to be kept under active review by my Department, to ensure the best possible outcomes for participants, while supporting the vital community services delivered through the scheme.
I trust this clarifies the matter for the Deputy.
