TÚS provides employment for individuals who have been unemployed for over a year, to help them get back into a regular working routine and regain a work focus.  It also provides them with the opportunity to learn new skills, build self-confidence and help their local community at the same time.

Tús participants are part-time employed for 19.5 hours per week for a year and are also given the opportunity to engage in training to improve their existing skills or learn new skills that may help them to progress into employment.  Over 2090 individuals to date have benefitted from this programme throughout County Kildare.

If you are currently unemployed and are wondering how to get onto the programme, this is how it works.

An individual cannot be considered for TÚS unless they are referred by the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection.

The Department randomly selects names from the live register of individuals unemployed for over a year.  They make contact with those selected to ask if they are interested in the TÚS Programme and forwards the details of those who are interested to the TÚS Team at County Kildare Leader Partnership CLG., Everyone on that list is invited to a one-to-one meeting to assess whether we have a suitable placement which matches their skills.

In 2015 the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection introduced an Assisted Self-Referral method, whereby a Social Protection or Employment Services Intreo case officer could also put an individual’s name forward for the programme. Please also ask your case Officer if this applies to you.

There are a number of Tús Team Supervisors across the county depending on your area of residence, they can be contacted with any queries you may have in relation to eligibility.

To find out more information please visit   https://www.countykildarelp.ie/programmes/tus/

Where you can download the Tús Application form.