Tús – Community work placement initiative

Tús – Community work placement initiative

Guidelines

Contents

1. GENERAL

• 1.1. Description of Initiative
• 1.2. Information Leaflet
• 1.3. Legislation
• 1.4. Administration

2. ENTITLEMENT AND ELIGIBILITY

• 2.1. Entitlement
• 2.2. Eligibility and Qualifying Conditions
• 2.3. Selection (Random)
• 2.4. Exemptions
• 2.5. Duration of Placement
• 2.6. Rates of Payment
• 2.7. Arrangements for Persons on Age reduced Social Welfare Payments
• 2.8. Social Welfare Payment Ceases
• 2.9. PRSI Contribution
• 2.10. Changes in pay resulting from a Change in Circumstances
• 2.11. Secondary benefits
• 2.12. Hours of work and nature of work
• 2.13. Disqualification

3. WORK PLACEMENTS AND NATURE OF WORK

• 3.1. Eligible Organisations
• 3.2. Ineligible Organisations
• 3.3. Work measures

APPENDICES

Contact details for Implementing Bodies

  1. GENERAL

1.1. Description of Initiative

Tús is a community work placement initiative announced in Budget 2011, which became operational during mid-2011. The initiative is one of a number of activation measures designed to provide work placement opportunities for people who are unemployed. The processes underpinning the operation of Tús support the management of the Live Register. Up to 5,000 work placements opportunities were initially announced, with an additional 2,500 Tús placements announced as part of the 2013 Budget package, in line with the commitments set out in the Action Plan for Jobs and Pathways to Work.

Tús provides opportunities for people who are unemployed to break the cycle of joblessness and helps to improve a person’s work readiness and support them in returning to the labour market. In addition, it is hoped that participation on Tús will boost a person’s motivation and confidence, offer them opportunities to experience different work environments and provide them with employment related experience to re-enter the labour market.

The European Commission is providing co-funding to Tús for participants under 25 years. Tús is jointly backed by the Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) and the European Social Fund (ESF) and Department of Social Protection on an equal funding basis. For the period 2015 - 2017 the allocation from each of the ESF and YEI is €11.8m approx.

In summary, Tús

• Is an activation initiative for those who are unemployed and on the Live Register;
• Supports the work readiness of those who participate;
• Provides short-term and suitable work opportunities for people who are unemployed while at the same time carrying out beneficial work within communities, and
• Contributes to the Department’s obligations to manage the Live Register.
• Supports the development and delivery of services to improve community wellbeing.

1.2. Information Leaflet

The Department has not published a separate information leaflet on Tús. Information is available on www.welfare.ie.

1.3. Legislation

Tús is a non statutory initiative approved by Government as part of the measures announced in Budget 2011 and launched on 21st December 2010. The functions of the Minister for Social Protection in respect of employment schemes and related schemes and programmes are set out in Part 3 of the Social Welfare and Pensions Act 2010 (Number 37 of 2010).

1.4. Administration

The initiative is delivered and managed at local level through the network of local development companies (sometimes referred to as Partnership or Leader companies). Údarás na Gaeltachta delivers and manages the initiative in Gaeltacht areas. These companies are collectively known as the Implementing Bodies (IBs). Each IB has been awarded a specific quota of Tús placements at both supervisory and participant level, based on the distribution of the Live Register. A list of the companies and the areas they cover is included in the Appendix to these Guidelines.

The IBs manage the day-to-day implementation of Tús and the supervision of participants on behalf of the Department. They are also responsible for advertising and promoting the initiative and identifying suitable work placements and community groups in their respective geographical locations. IBs are responsible for evaluating and selecting organisations which wish to provide work opportunities.

Policy and general operational responsibility rests with the Tús Unit within the Department of Social Protection (DSP). This unit is based in Carrick-on-Shannon, County Leitrim. The contact details for the Unit are:

Tús Unit
Department of Social Protection
Shannon Lodge,
Carrick on Shannon
Co. Sligo

Tel: 071 - 9672519

LoCall: 1890 927 999

Fax: 071 - 9672553

Email: tusinfo@welfare.ie

 2. ENTITLEMENT AND ELIGIBILITY

2.1. Entitlement

A person has no entitlement to participate on Tús. Selection is by way of random selection conducted by the Department of Social Protection based on the eligibility conditions set out in section 2.2. There is no provision for a person to apply for a Tús placement.

2.2. Eligibility and Qualifying Conditions

Eligibility is confined to those on the Live Register for at least 12 months and in receipt of Jobseeker’s Allowance. These provisions are to ensure a targeted approach to those who are long-term unemployed. Persons falling within the eligibility criteria can be randomly selected for participation.

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
• been receiving a jobseeker's payment (Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance) from the Department of Social Protection for at least 312 days in the twelve months immediately prior to commencing on the scheme;
• and be currently receiving Jobseeker's Allowance. 

 Or

• Persons in receipt of Jobseekers Transitional Payment  (in receipt of  OFP immediately prior to transferring to JST) and who are fully unemployed  – (no qualifying period applies in this case).

Or

• A refugee aged 18 years or older, authenticated by the Department of Justice & Law Reform (Garda Registrar Certificate with Stamp 4) and getting Jobseekers Allowance payment (no qualifying period applies).

Time spent on JobPath can count towards the qualifying time for Tús providing the person is currently receiving Jobseekers Allowance. Also, time spent in prison in this State may count towards the qualifying time for Tús providing the person is currently receiving Jobseekers Allowance. 

2.3. Selection (Random)

Potential Tús participants are identified by random selection by DSP. Once randomly selected, the DSP write to each suitable person selected, offering them the opportunity to be considered for a work placement opportunity and requesting their consent to have their contact details shared with the named IB operating in their area should they agree to participate. Those agreeing to participate and to having their contact details shared with the IB are then referred to the relevant IB. The IB will then contact the potential participant and invite them for an initial assessment interview to determine their interest, work and educational background and other relevant facts in order to attempt to find a suitable work placement.

Assisted/Self –Referral– Maximum 20% of Places

While the majority of people referred for Tús and Gateway are selected on a random basis by the Department, 20% of available places can be filled by assisted or self-referral  since May 2015. The assisted/self-referral affords a number of customers who fulfil the qualifying criteria the opportunity to avail of short-term quality work placements and break the cycle of unemployment.

The 20% allocation is available to the Case Officers but it is up to each individual Division/Case officer whether they avail of it (if divisions do not get the 20% quota of assisted/self-referrals, they are not obliged to meet this target and remaining places must be filled by random selection).

If a customer completes and submits a Tús Assisted/self-referral form, it must be followed up on.  

2.4. Exemptions

In general, no exemptions to participating on Tús are provided. However, subject to certain conditions and provision of documentary proof a person may seek not to take up the offer of a work placement on Tús if they are to take up employment, or engage in other activation, training or education measures.

2.5. Duration of Placement

Placements are for a maximum duration of 52 weeks. Participants are required to complete the 52 weeks placement unless they wish to take up an offer of full-time employment, education or training. Having completed a 52 week placement on Tús, a participant cannot subsequently re-participate on Tús for a minimum of 3 years.

2.6. Rates of Payment

Tús participants will receive a payment equivalent to their existing Jobseeker’s payment plus a ‘top-up’ of €22.50 per week, with a minimum payment of €210.50. Participants may receive extra allowances in respect of a qualified adult and qualified child(ren).

2.7. Arrangements for Persons on Age reduced Social Welfare Payments

Persons aged under 26 years, in receipt of an age related Jobseeker’s Allowance will receive the full rate while participating on Tús and then revert to the applicable age related rate following the completion of their Tús work placement.

2.8. Social Welfare Payment Ceases

Participants do not continue to receive social welfare payments for the duration of their engagement on Tús.

2.9. PRSI Contribution

Tús is regarded as income for income tax purposes; however, participants are exempt from paying the Universal Social Charge (USC). A PRSI contribution (‘A’ rate) is paid in respect of each participant by their employer and an employee PRSI contribution is only applicable when weekly earnings are over €352.00. Those earning in excess of €352.00 will pay a PRSI rate of 4% on their total income. The IBs will inform the Revenue Commissioners as participants commence on Tús and Revenue will then allocate the appropriate tax credits and Tax Bands in respect of each individual participant. Participants are paid directly into their bank accounts by Electronic Funds Transfer (EFT) on a weekly basis.

2.10. Changes in pay resulting from a Change in Circumstances

Participants are under an obligation to advise the IB of any change in circumstances that may impact on the value of their weekly payment. The rate of payment is calculated by reference to the underlying value of the social welfare payment prior to taking up engagement on Tús.

2.11. Secondary benefits

Participation does not result in loss of secondary benefits such as medical card, fuel allowance, back-to-school clothing and footwear allowance. Entitlement to secondary benefits will be subject to the usual assessment processes operated by the appropriate Scheme Area of the Department of Social Protection or relevant Authority. Participants on Tús will still be required to meet the terms and conditions attached to the secondary benefits, as set out in order to continue to qualify for any such payments. Entitlement to fuel allowance cannot be established after you commence on Tús.


The Health Service Executive (HSE) is responsible for Medical Cards and entitlement is dependant on personal circumstances. Applicants in receipt of jobseeker’s allowance for a period of 12 months or more are entitled to retain their Medical Card for three years on taking up employment from the date on which the employment commenced.

2.12. Hours of work and nature of work

Participants work 19½ hours per week for 52 weeks. Work placements are a valuable route for participants to gain or update experience of the workplace, to learn new skills and to return to the routine of work.
Participants provide resources to maintain and improve local amenities and facilities in rural and urban communities with inputs being funded either by Tús itself or local community fund-raising or other income. Communities in turn benefit from the skills and talents of local people with a diverse repertoire of skills and abilities.

2.13. Disqualification

Participants are not encouraged to exit Tús before completing 12 months unless it is to take up full-time employment or education. In cases where an individual exits Tús for reasons other than the taking up of full-time employment or education, they may be penalised by being disqualified from receiving a Jobseeker’s Allowance payment for up to nine weeks under the provisions of Section 147(4) of the Social Welfare (Consolidation) Act 2005.

 3. WORK PLACEMENTS AND NATURE OF WORK

3.1. Eligible Organisations

IBs play the lead-role in identifying organisations to provide placement opportunities. Those organisations eligible to participate must be:

• Community, voluntary and not-for-profit in nature, including IBs, other than Údarás na Gaeltachta; and
• Have a recognised informal (parish/community committee, trade, sporting, cultural or other association) or formal/legal structure (a company limited by guarantee, not-for-profit co-operative or friendly society where profits or surpluses are not distributed to members); and
• Demonstrate a track record of working with or providing services to and within their communities; and
• Demonstrate a capability of managing a participant in a placement with the supervisory support of the Implementing Body.

Community organisations engaged in the provision of local services with the support of other publicly supported programmes such as the Community Services Programme, Community Employment Scheme, Jobs Initiative and/or the Rural Social Scheme and voluntary organisations funded by the Health Services Executive or by the Office of the Minister for Children and Youth Affairs are considered eligible insofar as the placements do not displace or substitute employment supported under relevant programmes. Additionally, Citizens Information Centres and Money Advice and Budgeting Service (MABS) are eligible.

3.2. Ineligible Organisations

Public bodies (local authorities, voluntary education committees, Health Service Executive) or the functions that are the statutory responsibility of these bodies are not eligible for support. Similarly, individuals, sole traders, corporate or private bodies, commercial entities (for profit bodies or organisations) offering work placements are not considered to be eligible work placement providers for this initiative. Fee paying schools and colleges are not eligible for support.

3.3. Work measures

In general, all works and services undertaken or delivered by the community and voluntary sectors for the benefit of the general community or specific sectors can be considered eligible. Selected opportunities will fall within, and not be restricted, to the following broad categories of work:

Environmental services, to include

• Energy conservation work in low income homes and community buildings
• Renovation of community and sporting facilities
• Development, regeneration and enhancement of community spaces, gardens, parks, leisure areas, including sport grounds and school grounds where services are not otherwise provided
• Neighbourhood, village and countryside enhancement, including clean-up
• Recycling and repair of equipment, including furniture, tools, bicycles, and IT items

Caring services, to include

• Social care for all persons with such needs
• Personal aide to any person with particular needs due to ill-health, limited or restricted mobility
• Services for children in crèches and childcare settings
• Preparation and delivery of meals for older people or those with limited income
• Visitation, friendly call and befriending programmes for older people, those with mental health needs and those confined to home

General community services, to include

• Caretaking, securing, supervising of community buildings and spaces
• Administration, web design, social media, reception, production of newsletters
• Community research and evaluation, including genealogy
• Event management, promotion and administration
• Retail services in charity or community settings
• Promotion and support for volunteering

Heritage and cultural services, to include

• Promotion of the Irish language and cultural activities
• Development and maintenance of walking, cycling and leisure trails
• Administration, marketing and promotion of local heritage sites and events
• Staffing of cultural, tourism and heritage centres

Para-educational services, to include

• Administration, caretaking and other non-teaching or classroom supports
• Services for children in crèches and childcare settings
• Early years and after-school supports for children and young people
• Literacy, numeracy and related supports for adults and children or those with limited command of the English or Irish languages
• Assistance with recreational opportunities for adults/young people including coaching, training, art/music classes
• Actions to develop or support the school completion programme and related initiatives
 

APPENDICES

 

Contact details for Implementing Bodies

DSP Division	Implementing Body	Address				Phone No
South West & Cork Central	Avondhu/Blackwater Partnership Ltd	The Showgrounds	Fermoy		Co. Cork	025 - 33411
Dublin Central	Ballyfermot Partnership Company	4 Drumfinn Park	Ballyfermot		Dublin 10	01 - 6235612
Midwest & Southwest	Ballyhoura Community	Main Street	Kilfinane		Co. Limerick	063 - 91300
Dublin North	Blanchardstown Area Partnership	Dillon House	106 Coolmine Business Park	Coolmine	Dublin 15	01 - 8209550
Dublin South/Mid Leinster	Bray Partnership	4 Prince of Wales Terrace	Quinsboro Road	Bray	Co. Wicklow	01 - 2868266
North East	Breffni Integrated Development Ltd.	6A Corlurgan Business park	Corlurgan, Ballinagh Rd	Cavan	Co. Cavan	049 - 4331029
Dublin Central	Dublin South City Partnership	3-4 Agnes Road	Crumlin		Dublin 12	01 - 4732196
South East	Carlow County Development Partnership Limited	Main Street	Bagenalstown		Co. Carlow	059 - 9720733
Dublin South/Mid Leinster	Cill Dara Ar Aghaidh Teo	Jiggingstown Commercial Centre	Old Limerick Road	Naas	Co. Kildare	045 - 895450
Mid West	Clare Local Development Company	Westgate Business Park	Kilrush Road	Ennis	Co. Clare	065 - 6866800
Dublin South/Mid Leinster	County Wicklow Community Partnership	3rd floor, Avoca River House	Bridgewater Centre	Arklow	Co. Wicklow	0402 - 20955
Cork Central	Comhair Chathair Chorcai	Heron House	Blackpool Park	Blackpool	Cork	021 - 4302310
South East	County Kilkenny Leader Partnership Company Ltd.	8 Patrick's Court	Patrick St	Kilkenny	Co. Kilkenny	056 - 7752111
Mid West	Co. Sligo Leader Partnership Company	Sligo Development Centre	Cleveragh Road		Sligo	071 - 9141138
North West	Donegal Local Development Company	1 Millennium Court	Pearse Road	Letterkenny	Co. Donegal	074 - 9127056
Dublin North	Fingal Leader Partnership Co. Ltd	Abco Kovex House	Swords Business Park	Swords	Co. Dublin	01 - 8077681
West	Forum Connemara Ltd	Ellis Hall	Letterfrack	Connemara	Co. Galway	095 - 41116
West	Galway City Partnership	3 The Plaza Offices	Headford Road		Galway City	091 - 773466
West	Galway Rural Development Co.	Mellows Campus	Athenry		Co.Galway	091 - 844335
North West	Inishowen Development Partnership	Pound Street Business Park	Pound St., Carndonagh	Inishowen	Co. Donegal	074 - 9373083
South West	IRD Duhallow Ltd.	James O'Keeffe Institute	Newmarket		Co. Cork	029 - 60633
Midlands South	Laois Partnership Company	2 Park Villas	Mountmellick	Portlaoise	Co. Laois	057 - 8661900
North West	Leitrim Integrated Development Company Ltd	Church Street	Drumshanbo		Co. Leitrim	071 - 9641770
Midlands	Longford Community Resources Limited	Longford Community Enterprise Centre		Ballinalee Road	Longford	043 - 3345555
North East	Louth LEADER Partnership Ltd	Partnership Court	Park Street	Dundalk	Co. Louth	042 - 9330288
​North East	​Meath Partnership	​Ground Floor Unit 7	​Kells Business Park	​Cavan Road, Kells	​Co. Meath	​046 - 9280790
North East	Monaghan Integrated Development Company	Monaghan Road	Castleblayney		Co. Monaghan	042 - 9749500
South West	North & East Kerry Leader Partnership Teo	Clash	Tralee		Co Kerry	066 - 7180190
West	Mayo North East Leader Ltd	Lower Main Street	Foxford		Co. Mayo	094 - 9256745
Nid West	North Tipperary Integrated Local Development Body	2nd Floor	Friars Court	Nenagh	Co Tipperary	067 - 56676
Dublin North	Northside Partnership Ltd	The Coolock Development Centre	Bunratty Drive	Coolock	Dublin 17	01 - 8485630
Midlands	Offaly Integrated Local Development Company Ltd	Millennium House	Main Street	Tullamore	Co. Offaly	057 - 9352467
Mid West	PAUL Partnership Limerick	Unit 25a	Tait Business Centre	Dominic Street	Limerick	061 - 419388
West	Roscommon Integrated Development Body	Unit 12, Tower B,	Roscommon West Business Pk	Golf Links Rd	Roscommon	090 - 6630252
Cork Central	SECAD (South & East Cork Area Development)	Midleton Community Enterprise Centre	Owennacurra Business Park, Knockgriffin	Midleton	Co. Cork	021 - 4613432
South West	South Kerry Development Partnership	West Main Street		Caherciveen	Co. Kerry	066 - 9472724
Mid West	South Tipperary Development Company	Unit 2C Carrigeen Commercial Park	Clogheen Road	Cahir	Co. Tipperary	052 - 7442652
West	South West Mayo Development	Balla			Co. Mayo	094 - 9366692
Dublin South/Mid Leinster	Southside Partnership DLR Ltd	The Old Post Office,	7 Rock Hill, Main St	Blackrock	Co. Dublin	01 - 7060121
Dublin North	Dublin North West Area Partnership	Rosehill House	Finglas		Dublin 11	01 - 8361666
North West, West, South West, South East & Midlands North	Údarás na Gaeltachta	Na Forbacha	Co. na Gaillimhe			091 - 503213
South East	Waterford Area Partnership	Westgate Business Park	Tramore Road		Waterford	051 - 841740
South East	Waterford Leader Partnership Ltd.	John Barry House, Lismore Business Park	Lismore		Co. Waterford	058 - 54646
South West & Cork Central	West Cork Development Partnership Ltd.	Unit D, West Cork Technology Park	Clonakilty		Co. Cork	023 - 8834035
Mid West	West Limerick Resources Limited	St Marys Road	Newcastle West		Co. Limerick	069 - 62222
Midlands	Westmeath Community Development	Enterprise Technology & Innovation Centre, Zone C	Clonmore Business Park	Mullingar	Co Westmeath	044 - 9348571
South East	Wexford Local Development	Spawell Road	Wexford Town		Wexford	053 - 9155800
Dublin South/Mid Leinster	South County Dublin	County Hall, Block 3	Belgard Square North	Tallaght	Dublin 24	01 - 4649300