Tús (community work placement initiative)

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 Implementing Bodies (IB’s) formerly known as Local Development Companies and Údarás na Gaeltachta for the Department of Social Protection, which has overall responsibility for the scheme. Participants work 19 ½ hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months.

All the work carried out by participants on Tús is community-based.

The types of projects 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)

To qualify for Tús, you must:

• have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and "signing on" on a full-time basis and
• have been getting a jobseeker's payment (Jobseeker's Benefit or Jobseeker's Allowance) or Beneficiary of Temporary Protection (BOTP) weekly payment from the department for at least 12 months and
• be currently getting Jobseeker's Allowance or BOTP weekly payment
• for people getting BOTP payment the qualifying period may be a mixture of the BOTP weekly payment and your previous qualifying payment for Tús, that is jobseeker’s payment or
• be 18 years of age or over, fully unemployed and getting Disability Allowance (no qualifying period applies, applications by self-referral only)

From November 2024, the department is running a pilot project aimed at 18-year-olds who are fully unemployed, getting Jobseekers Allowance, and have a low likelihood of finding employment. (no qualifying period applies,).

Unemployed people who are eligible for the scheme will be identified and contacted by their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office and offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme. Since May 2015, some Tús places can be filled through self-referral by potential participants.

If you agree to participate on Tús you will be referred to your local Implementing Body (Local Development Company) or your local Údarás na Gaeltachta (if you live in a Gaeltacht area), 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.

The minimum weekly payment for participants (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €271.50.

If the actual Jobseeker’s Allowance you were getting (including increases for dependants) was €244 a week or less, then you will get the minimum Tús payment of €271.50 per week, (that is €244 plus €27.50).

If your actual weekly Jobseeker’s Allowance (including any increases for dependants) was €244 or more, then you will get the equivalent rate plus €27.50 (there are some exceptions to this).

If you are getting a BOTP weekly payment and you qualify for Tús, you will get €271.50 weekly on the scheme. BOTP customers on Tús are not eligible for increases for fuel, spouse/civil partner/cohabitant (IQA) or dependent children (Child Support payment). The spouse/civil partner/cohabitant or dependent children may continue to claim the BOTP weekly payment in their own right subject to satisfying specified criteria.

BOTP customers will not receive an additional contribution towards the cost of their meals in Designated Accommodation Centres.

Participants may keep any extra benefits and the medical card, provided they are still eligible.

In general, there is no application process for unemployed people who are eligible for this scheme. Potential participants will be selected and contacted by their local Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

Self-referrals should be made to your Intreo Centre or Social Welfare Branch Office.

Community and voluntary organisations interested in providing Tús work placement opportunities should register with their Implementing Body ( Local Development Company) or their local Udarás na Gaeltachta office. (if living in a Gaeltacht area)

Operational guidelines describe the processes and procedures that staff in the department follow when carrying out their work.

Operational Guidelines: TÚS – Community work placement initiative.