Community Work Placement Scheme to benefit Football Family

[FAI]

The Minister for Social Protection, Éamon Ó Cuív TD, has announced arrangements for a new
work placement initiative in the community sector which can benefit participating Football Clubs
and Leagues.
The initiative which has been developed by his Department following consultation with the FAI
and other agencies will be known as Tús, and will provide 5,000 short term working
opportunities for people unemployed for over a year. The placements will be with community
sector organisations, including sports organisations, to support the delivery of their services.
€30 million is being committed in 2011 to allow for the introduction of Tús and that this would
grow to a commitment of €100 million in 2012.
Speaking about Tús, Minister Ó Cuív said: "This new measure will add to the suite of measures
already announced by the Government and allows all sectors of society to play a role by
supporting people who are unemployed while helping with the recovery of our national
prosperity. We need to be innovative in how we can provide working opportunities for those who
have lost employment over the past few years and how we can support service delivery in the
private, public and voluntary sectors which are under pressure because of the downturn in
economic activity."
FAI CEO, John Delaney added his support to the scheme by saying that "this new measure will
be of great assistance to clubs and leagues and is another example, along with the "Shared
Access" Scheme, the "3" Mobile Phone Affinity Scheme and the "Walk of Dreams" initiatives, of
how the FAI can facilitate beneficial opportunities for members of the Football Family".
Minister Ó Cuív continued: "In addition to any financial benefit to the worker, work brings other
benefits to the individual, including to their psychological and general wellbeing from being
involved in wider societal, community and employment activity."
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Community Work Placement Scheme to benefit Football Family
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 16:09
Minister Ó Cuív said he fully appreciated the economic realities that were "affecting so many
businesses and that the voluntary and sporting sector was not immune from the competing
effects of reduced funding from both public sources and fund-raising, and an unprecedented
increase in demand for services and support."
The Minister believes that Tús will be able to address the twin aims of providing opportunities
for those who are unemployed and support for community and voluntary activity.
Tús, which will operate in rural and urban areas will be delivered using the infrastructure
developed for the Rural Social Scheme which has operated in rural areas since 2004. This will
ensure that administrative and employment obligations are shared between the Department and
Local Development Companies.
How can Football Club and Leagues benefit from the Scheme?
Football Clubs and Leagues will play a key role in the scheme as they can propose and provide
work placements that will provide Participants with valuable working opportunities in good
quality work settings. Clubs and Leagues can benefit from the scheme by being able to gain
from the work carried out by Participants.
The type of work that can be carried out includes, but is not limited to; Facility Management,
Coaching within the club or within the local community, Administrative work, Facility
Renovations, Marketing and Communication initiatives.
How can Clubs / Leagues register an interest to take part in the scheme?
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Community Work Placement Scheme to benefit Football Family
Wednesday, 05 January 2011 16:09
Clubs and Leagues with work placement opportunities should register their interest in the
scheme with the Local Development Company / Údarás na Gaeltachta operating in their
immediate area.
Click here for the contact details for the Local Development Companies.
Clubs and Leagues will then be required to submit a detailed work proposal outlining the work to
be undertaken, the number of Participants requested etc. for consideration by the Local
Development Company / Údarás na Gaeltachta.
Following assessment, the Local Development Company / Údarás na Gaeltachta will contact
the Club or League advising them of their decision.
The Football Association of Ireland has also given an undertaken to work with the Local
Development Companies to assist with the provision of training opportunities and to assist with
the provision of Garda Clearance for participants.If you would like to find out more about the scheme you can download an FAQ list by clicking
the following link; tusfaq.pdf .
Further information is also available from your Local Development Company.
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