Overview of the Tús Initiative
The Tús Initiative is a community-focused work placement programme designed to offer short-term employment opportunities to individuals who are unemployed. The primary aim of the scheme is twofold: to support individuals in re-engaging with the workforce, and to deliver tangible benefits to local communities through valuable work contributions.
Work placements provided through the Tús initiative are hosted by local community and voluntary organisations across South Kerry. These placements are tailored to meet the specific needs of both the Tús participant and the local area, ensuring that the work carried out supports and enhances community development efforts AND for the participant, an invaluable opportunity to gain essential work experience and develop practical skills, significantly enhancing their employable potential.
The initiative is administered at the local level by Implementing Bodies – South Kerry Development Partnership CLG – on behalf of the Department of Social Protection (DSP), which retains overall responsibility for the strategic management and oversight of the scheme.
Each placement under the Tús programme is offered for a maximum duration of 52 weeks, during which participants are engaged in community-based work for 19.5 hours per week. These structured placements aim to support participants in developing skills, gaining work experience, and improving their employment prospects, while also fostering stronger community ties through meaningful service
Tús for Participants
If you are unemployed and would like to check your eligibility, please see the most up-to-date information here: Click Here.
South Kerry Development Partnership and our Tús Supervisors take pride in offering participants engaging and productive work placement experiences that:
- Help them to re-engage with the workplace and the routine of work
- Build Tús participants’ confidence and self-esteem
- Focus on improving their own employment prospects
Tús for Community Groups
Community & Voluntary Organisations have a key role in proposing and providing work placements that will provide Tús Participants with valuable working opportunities in meaningful work settings complementing the participants previous work experience, their skills and their interests.
All project work carried out by participants under the Tús Initiative is community based. The types of projects eligible for support can 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 management
- Coaching for sporting activities (where operated by designated sporting organisations)
- Repair of equipment for developing world – farm tools, bicycles, computers, sewing machines, health equipment.
For further details, please contact the relevant officer for your area listed below:
Area | Contact Name/Title | Office Location | Contact No. | |
All | Joseph McCrohan Tús Manager | West Main Street, Cahersiveen, Co. Kerry | 066 9472724 087 2849165 | |
Mid Kerry | Paudie O Shea Tús Supervisor | Library Place, Killorglin, Co. Kerry | 066 9761615 087 4146379 | |
Mid Kerry | John McCrohan Tús Supervisor | Library Place, Killorglin, Co. Kerry | 066 9761615 0876187629 | |
Killarney | Lisa Murphy Tús Supervisor | 37 High Street, 2nd Floor, Killarney, Co. Kerry | 064 6636572 087 2126551 | |
Killarney | Ger Moynihan Tús Supervisor | 37 High Street, 2nd Floor, Killarney, Co. Kerry | 064 6636572 087 1240365 | |
Kenmare | Donal McCarthy Tús Supervisor | 21 Henry Street, Kenmare, Co. Kerry | 064 6641930 087 4199572 |
