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European Social Fund Plus
News2023-03-23

Ireland launches €1 billion ESF+ programme

Launch event for IE ESF+ programmes
(c) European Union

On 21 March 2023, Andriana Sukova, Deputy-Director General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion at the European Commission  and Simon Harris, Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science, officially launched the national ESF+ programme for Ireland. The event celebrated Ireland's 50th anniversary of EU membership.

The EU will invest over €508 million in ESF+ funds in Ireland, complemented by €573 million national funding, to increase employment for young people, persons with disabilities, long-term unemployed and women. ESF+ activities will focus on expanding skills and lifelong learning – including training and early childhood education services. Around half of ESF+ funding in Ireland will be used to address the most urgent social challenges, such as child poverty and social exclusion. 

ESF+ for Ireland’s future  

The ESF+ will help Ireland meet its national targets under the European Pillar of Social Rights Action Plan in the area of employment, lifelong learning and poverty reduction. Supporting concrete investment as part of the European Year of Skills, ESF+ funds will promote inclusive training and upskilling, ensuring skills are relevant – both for the labour market and people’s personal goals. The ESF+ will also continue to support long-established, successful interventions like the Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme (SICAP), where service providers and local community organisations work hand in hand. 

Youthreach 

Past funding under the European Social Fund (ESF) considerably improved the lives of young people in Ireland. 122 Youthreach centres were created across the country helping early school leavers aged 15 to 20 years to make the transition from school to work. The centres provide up to two years of integrated training, education and work experience and support students with a weekly allowance. During the last six years, nearly 14 000 young people not in employment, education or training were given the opportunity to develop the knowledge, skills and confidence required to participate fully in society and continue with further education, training and employment. The ESF+ will continue to fund Youthreach with nearly €85 million between 2021 and 2027.

Pierce, a participant in the programme, stated his involvement with Youthreach changed his life, giving him the tools he needed to succeed, ‘I developed in confidence, people skills, and things that are important in life,’ he said, ‘Ultimately, it was one of the best decisions I’ve made in my life.’ 

The ESF+ in Ireland will aim to ensure the country is able to meet the challenges ahead: building a society that is ready for the green and digital transitions, new forms of work, the need to constantly reskill to remain productive – while ensuring that nobody is left behind.