Tús aims to provide short-term, quality work opportunities for those who are unemployed and to provide certain services of benefit to communities.

Tús will be managed at a local level, on behalf of the Department of Social Protection, by the Local Development Companies and in the Gaeltacht by Údarás na Gaeltachta.

South West Mayo Development Company has an allocation of 140 places in its area of operation.

Tús  has both an urban and rural focus and is built on the proven architecture of the Rural Social Scheme.

Who can participate on Tús?

• A person must be unemployed and in receipt of a jobseeker's payment for at least 12 months, and In receipt of a jobseekers payment from the Department of Social Protection for at least 12 months, and
• Currently be in receipt of Jobseeker's Allowance and
• Be fully unemployed.

The Department of Social Protection will identify and contact persons on the Live Register who satisfy the criteria and offer them the opportunity to be considered for local placement as opportunities arise.

When those indentified agree to participate, they will be referred to the Local Development Company operating in their area for interview and consideration for placement.

The Local Development Companies will maintain a panel from which persons will be recruited.

As placement opportunities arise, those on the panel will be matched with the work and recruited.

Prior to being offered a placement, it will be necessary to ensure that a person's general suitability for the work involved and their experience of similar work, is established.

Participants will work for 19.5 hours a week and the placement lasts 12 months.

Types of projects carried out are likely to include:

• Energy conservation work in homes and community buildings
• Social care of all age groups and persons with a disability or limited mobility
• Caretaking, securing, supervising of community buildings and spaces
• Renovation of community and sporting facilities, including the regeneration and enhancement of community, recreation and sporting spaces
• Work in support of the promotion of the Irish language, other cultural and heritage activities
• Community administration, research and community event mangement
• Coaching for sporting activities (where operated by designated sporting organisations)
• Repair of equipment for developing world - farm tools, bicycles, computers, sewing machines, health equipment.