
Who are TÚS
The TÚS initiative is a community work placement scheme providing work experience 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 Fingal LEADER Partnership for the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection, which has overall responsibility for the scheme. Unemployed people who are eligible to participate in the scheme are selected at random and contacted by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
The purpose of TÚS
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)
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.
Organisations participating in TÚS
TÚS placements have provided to the following organisations, who are our partners in implementing the programme. The funding Department for the TÚS programme is the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.
Balbriggan & District Chamber | 01-9680080 |
Balbriggan Allotment Association | 085-1750856 |
Balbriggan Cancer support | 086-866746 |
Balbriggan Community Childcare Group | 01-8417104 |
Balbriggan Community Collage | 01-8412388 |
Balbriggan Cricket Club | 085-7107243 |
Balbriggan Enterprise & Training Centre (BEAT) | 01-8020400 |
Balbriggan Football Club | 086-3334434 |
Balbriggan Meals Ltd | 01-8416743 |
Balbriggan Mens Shed | 086-0626819 |
Balbriggan Rugby Football Club | 086-2421880 |
Fingal Citizens Information Service – Balbriggan | 087-2937153 |
Foróige Balbriggan Youth services | 086-7710790 |
Youth Reach Balbriggan | 01-9680600 |
Alzheimer Society of Ireland | 086-7703432 |
Coláiste GHLÓR Na Mara | 01-8416269 |
Flemington community centre | 01-8415070 |
Glebe North Football | 086-3275772 |
Guide Dogs for the Blind | 087-2309495 |
Society of st vincent De Paul | 01-8198407 |
Balscadden District community council | 01-8417819 |
Bracken Boxing Club | 085-7199221 |
Bracken Educate Together N.S | 01-9602010 |
Casa Charity Shop | 01-8020477 |
Castlelands community centre | 01-6905168 |
Fingal Travellers Organisation | 086-0419883 |
Friend of A,D,H,D | 087-6729158 |
Friend of A,D,H,D | 087-1615155 |
Glebe North A.F.C | 087-2589868 |
Motorcycling Ireland | 01-8020480 |
NCBI Charity shop | 087-7652207 |
O Dwyers GAA Club | 086-0530432 |
St Peter & Pauls JNS | 01-8412670 |
Ardgillan Castle L.T.D | 01-8492212 |
Cairde | 01-8020785 |
Remember Us | 086-0457003 |
Remember Us | 086-0457003 |
Socuting Ireland | 087-2388254 |
98th Scout Group | 087-7837117 |
Allotments Skerries | 087-2266922 |
Church of Ireland | 01-8493886 |
Friend of A,D,H,D | 087-9376969 |
Holmpatrick school | 01-8491409 |
Mourne Estate Residents & Management | 086-1992369 |
Nurture post natal depression Support | 01-8430930 |
Prosper Fingal | 01-8490915 |
Fingal Citizens Information Service – Skerries | 087-2937153 |
Mourne Celtic FC | 086-1992369 |
Skerries Community centre | 01-8490888 |
Skerries Harps GAA Club | 086-8177965 |
Skerries Mills | 01-8495208 |
Skerries Rugby club | 087-6186701 |
Skerries Tidy towns | 087-2484051 |
The Hills Cricket club | 086-1992369 |
Clann Mhuire CLG | 087-2345947 |
Gormanstown& District Anglers Club | 086-8750650 |
North County cricket club | 087-7848264 |
Baldoyle Badminton | 01-8393355 |
Baldoyle Boxing Club | 086-3713030 |
Baldoyle Forum Ltd | 01-8395338 |
Baldoyle United Football Club | 01-8082659 |
Baldoyle Youth Club | 086-0635457 |
Anchor Childcare Centre | 01-8399025 |
Bereavement Counselling | 087-2075816 |
Trackside Lawn Tennis Club | 01-8324670 |
Howth Celtic FC | 086-8331170 |
Mid-Sutton Community Centre | 01-8391143 |
Naomh Barróg GAA Club | 01-8306963 |
Portmarnock Athlectic Football Club | 086-3268881 |
Standardbred Horse Racing Ireland | 086-2698399 |
Beann Eadair CLG | 086-3713030 |
Trinity Gaels GAA Club | 087-7623527 |
Applewood Community Centre | 086-8391693 |
Brackenstown Adult Scene of Education | 086-3493186 |
Fingal Citizens Information Service – Swords | 087-2937153 |
Fingal County Childcare Committee | 087-6008575 |
Fingal Tourism | 086-2214178 |
Fingallians GAA Club | 086-8144393 |
Holywell Community Centre | 086-8391693 |
Irish Cancer Society – Shop | 086-0370234 |
Local Enterprise Office Fingal | 01-8900800/087-9884081 |
National Council For the Blind – Shop | 01-8821908 |
North Dublin Regional Drug & Alcohol Task Force | 086-2615276 |
St Colmcilles Church | 01-8407277 |
St Colmcilles GAA Club | 087-7869004 |
St Finians GAA Club | 087-9734883 |
Swords Celtic Football Club | 087-1262691 |
Swords Manor | 089-4223548 |
Swords Tidy Towns | 086-6008313 |
The Emmaus Centre | 085-2525256 |
The Riasc Centre | 087-7522403 |
Aer Lingus Social and Athletic Association | 01-4880400 |
Athletic Union League | 01-8472150 |
Epilepsy Care Foundation | 086-2511609 |
Focus Ireland | 087-1458698 |
Kinsealy Football Club | 086-0499184 |
Malahide Castle & Gardens Ltd | 087-7706831 |
Malahide Cricket Club | 087-6375540 |
Malahide Parish Centre | 01-5496611/098-3910966 |
Malahide Rugby Club | 01-8400050/086-2271535 |
Malahide Yacht Club | 086-8595634 |
Sportslink | 01-8621200 |
St Benedict’s Conference (Society of SVdeP) | 086-8066380 |
Donabate Community College | 01-8436726/087-9870963 |
Donabate Portrane Community Centre | 01-8434546 |
Gaelscoil Ros Eo | 086-3040840 |
Loughshinny Community Association | 01-8490930 |
Lusk community council | 087-9813194 |
Lusk National school | 01-8437738 |
Lusk Scouts | 085-7322960 |
Lusk united football club | 087-2041004 |
Man o war GAA Club | 087-2361855 |
Mill Bank Theatre | 01-8437475 |
Portrane Football Club | 083 3347680 |
Rush Athletic Football club | 085-1140496 |
Rush Community Centre | 01-8439349 |
Rush Cricket club | 087-6847833 |
Rush National School | 01-1234567 |
Rush Sailing Club | 086-8232160 |
Rush Tidy Towns | 087-2484051 |
Sofia Housing | 01-8436933 |
St Ita’s Football Club | 087-62724786 |
St Joseph’s school | 01-8437534 |
St Maurs GAA Club | 085-8617587 |
St Pats GAA | 087-2427296 |
Selection Process
Unemployed people who are eligible for the scheme will be identified and contacted by their Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection local office or Intreo centre and offered the opportunity to participate in the scheme.
If they agree to participate in the TÚS scheme they will be referred to Fingal LEADER Partnership where they will be recruited for a suitable placement when it becomes available.
We do accept a small number of eligible applicants who refer themselves to the programme – contact us directly using the details below.
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.
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 they refuse a work opportunity without good reason, they may have their DEASP payment reduced or terminated. If, following a refusal of a placement, someone’s payment is reduced or terminated they may appeal this decision to the Social Welfare Appeals Office within 21 days.
Participants will work for 19 ½ hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months. They receive the same statutory annual leave and public holiday entitlement as other employees. When the placement finishes, they should sign on again with their local DEASP office. They 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.
The minimum weekly payment for participants (based on 19.5 hours worked) is €208. With effect from 4th January 2016, the top-up rate has increased to €22.50, with a minimum payment of €210.50.
If the actual Jobseeker’s Allowance (including dependants) you were getting is €188 a week or less, then you will get the minimum TÚS weekly rate of €208 (that is €188 plus €20). If your actual weekly Jobseeker’s Allowance (including dependants) is €188.01 or more, then you will get the equivalent rate plus €20 (there are some exceptions to this).
With effect from 4th January 2016, the top-up rate has increased to €22.50, with a minimum payment of €210.50.
The rules 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 Rural Dublin LEADER and your DEASP 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 €208.
Other payments 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.
Participants will retain any extra benefits and the medical card provided they are still eligible.
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.
The work placements are proposed and provided by community and voluntary organisations. The organisations must provide good quality work opportunities that are of benefit to the community. Organisations with a proposed work placement should register with Rural Dublin LEADER. They will be asked to submit a proposal detailing the work and the number of participants requested. Rural Dublin LEADER will assess and make a decision on the proposal.
This programme is funded by the following: