Tús is a community work placement scheme providing short-term working opportunities for unemployed people throughout Ireland. The work done benefits the community and are provided by not-for-profit community and voluntary organisations.
Unemployed people who are eligible to participate in the scheme are selected and contacted by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection who then put them forward for placement. A limited number of places can also be filled through ‘self-selection’ by unemployed people who are eligible and interested in specific local positions.
Since 2011 Southside Partnership DLR has managed up to 14 Tús teams in Dún Laoghaire Rathdown. In 2018 alone over 200 local unemployed people participated on this community work placement initiative which helped them to update their CVs, gain new skills and break some of the bad habits and patterns associated with exposure to long-term unemployment.
As well as running some our Care & Repair team, in partnership with Age Action Ireland, we also have up to 100 active community and voluntary groups within the county hosting Tús participants and benefiting from their hard work and commitment. There are a wide variety of placements available for those participating on the programme including, caretaking, administration, gardening, childcare, project work, tidy towns operative, mini-bus drivers and reception to name but a few.
Available Tús positions include:
- Administration
- Retail Assistants
- Caretakers
- Project Workers
And many more ..
Who can take part in Tús?
To be qualify for Tús, you must meet both the following conditions:
- You have been continuously unemployed for at least 12 months and “signing on” on a full-time basis
- You 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
You must also meet one of the following criteria:
- Be currently receiving Jobseeker’s Allowance (JA)
- Be 18 or over, fully unemployed and in receipt of Disability Allowance (there is no qualifying period, applications are by self-referral only)
- Be 18 or over, with refugee status and getting Jobseeker’s Allowance payment (no qualifying period applies)
If you are getting JA and have break(s) of up to 30 days in your jobseekers record over the last 12 months, you will still be eligible for Tús.
Time spent on the Pandemic Unemployment Payment (PUP), Carer’s Allowance (CA) or JobPath can count towards the 12 months qualifying period.
Selection process
Most 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 a place in the scheme. Potential participants can also sign themselves up to the scheme.
If you agree to participate in the Tús scheme you will be referred to your local development company
Rates
Since January 2023 the minimum weekly payment for participants (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €247.50.
If your Jobseeker’s Allowance payment (including increases for dependants) was €220 a week or less, then you will get the minimum Tús weekly rate of €247.50 (that is €220 plus €27.50).
If your weekly Jobseeker’s Allowance (including any increases for dependants) was €220.01 or more, then you will get the equivalent rate plus €27.50 (there are some exceptions to this).
Participants will keep any extra benefits and the medical card, provided they are still eligible.
Care & Repair
Do you have a small repair job that you would like some help with? Southside Partnership DLR, your local community development company, in association with Age Action Ireland, is pleased to announce a free Care & Repair Service in the Dun Laoghaire Rathdown area.
A suitable ‘job’ for us to help with is one that you expect will take up to 1.5 hrs max. and might include a garden tidy-up, replacing light bulbs, fitting door chains or smoke alarms, putting up shelves or moving light pieces of furniture to another room.
Our staff will provide a helping hand with a variety of small tasks that an older person may find difficult. To find out more please contact our Care & Repair office in Ballybrack on (01) 44 55 450.
You can also see some of the jobs and projects we’ve completed by downloading the full report of Southside Partnership DLR Care & Repair Service here.
Voluntary donations accepted to run the service for which a receipt will be issued.