Introduction
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 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
Employment Affairs and Social Protection (DEASP), which has overall
responsibility for the scheme.
Unemployed people who are eligible to participate in the scheme are selected
and contacted by the DEASP – see 'Selection process' below.
Type of project
All the work carried out by participants in the Tús scheme will be
community-based. The types of project eligible for the scheme may include:
- Environmental services (for example, conservation and maintenance of
national walkways)
- Caring services (for example, childcare, care of older people)
- General community services (for example, newsletters or information
provision for communities)
- Heritage and cultural services (for example, local heritage project)
- Para-educational services (for example, community playgroups)
Allocation of places
The 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 Employment Affairs and 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 Intreo Centre or local Social Welfare Branch Office and
offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme. Since May 2015, some Tús
places can now be filled through self-referral by potential participants.
If you agree to participate in the Tús scheme you will be referred to your
local development company or Údarás na Gaeltachta where you will be recruited
for a suitable placement when it becomes available.
As there are only limited places available on the scheme, not all eligible
unemployed people will be contacted.
Other work
Participants on Tús can take up other part-time employment, provided it
does not interfere with the work and times of the Tús work placement. If
participants are offered full-time alternative work they may terminate their
work placement contract.
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 you refuse a work opportunity without good reason, you
may have your social welfare payment reduced or terminated. If, following a
refusal of a placement, your payment is reduced or terminated you may appeal
this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
Working conditions
Participants work 19 ½ hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months. You
receive the same statutory annual leave and public holiday entitlement as other
employees. During the 12 month placement, you may have up to 2 days’
uncertified and 7 days’ certified sick leave. When the placement finishes,
you should sign on again with your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch
Office. You cannot participate in the Tús scheme again for 3 years.
Childcare: If you need childcare in order to participate in
the Tús scheme, you may be eligible for the After-School
Child Care (ASCC) scheme.
Rates
The minimum weekly payment for participants (based on 19.5 hours worked) is
€220.50 from March 2018.
If the actual Jobseeker’s Allowance you were getting (including increases
for dependants) was €198 a week or less, then you will get the minimum Tús
weekly rate of €220.50 (that is €198 plus €22.50). If your actual weekly
Jobseeker’s Allowance (including any increases for dependants) was €198.01
or more, then you will get the equivalent rate plus €22.50 (there are some
exceptions to this).
Participants will retain any extra benefits and the medical card, provided
they are still eligible.
Additional income
If you have any additional income, for example, from part-time work, it will
not affect your Tús payment. However, the rules on change of circumstances
that apply to Jobseeker’s Allowance also apply to the Tús payment. In order
to avoid any possible overpayments, if there is any change in your
circumstances, you should inform your local development company or Údarás na
Gaeltachta and your local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office. One
example of a change in your circumstances would be if your dependant got a job.
Their income would be assessed as means and your Tús payment might be reduced.
It cannot be reduced below the minimum rate of €220.50.
Spouses or partners and Tús
If you get a place on a Tús scheme and your spouse or partner is claiming
Jobseeker's Allowance (JA), Disability Allowance (DA) or Farm Assist in their
own right, they can claim an Increase for a Qualified Adult with their JA, DA
or Farm Assist. Your income from the Tús scheme (as a single person) is then
assessed as insurable employment against their payment.
If you are on a Tús scheme and your spouse or partner gets a place on a
Tús scheme, you will each get a single rate of the Tús payment together with
half of the Increases for a Qualified Child for any dependent children.
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.