Overview of the operation of the

European Social Fund (ESF) & YouthEmployment Initiative (YEI)

in IrelandHugh GeogheganESF Managing AuthorityDepartment of Education and Skills25 November 2016

European Structural and Investment Funds - ESIF

With a budget of €454 billion for 2014-20, the ESIFs are the EU’smain investment policy tool. They include the - European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) European Social Fund (ESF) Cohesion Fund (CF) (only applicable to MS where GNI per capita

is

ESIF - Principles

To deliver on Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable andinclusive growth, to fund specific missions and to pursue CountrySpecific Recommendations

Partnership Model - national/local authorities working withsocial partners and NGOs at all stages - planning, implementing,monitoring and evaluating

Strategic Plans set out in Member State Partnership Agreementsand individual Operational Programmes

Horizontal Principles – Gender Equality & Non-Discriminationand Sustainable Development

Europe 2020 Targets and Irish NRP Targets

ESF Objectives

To improve employment opportunities

To promote education and life-long learning

To enhance social inclusion

To combat discrimination and promote equal opportunities

To contribute to combatting poverty

To improve public services

ESF in Ireland

Since 1973 – over €7 billion ESF funding since accession

2007-2013 – Human Capital Investment Operational Programme(HCIOP)

2014-2020 – Programme for Employability, Innovation andLearning (PEIL)

Approved by European Commission in February 2015

Formally launched in April 2015

Total funding of €1.153 billion, with €611 million from the EU (€542million ESF and €68 million YEI)

Youth Employment Initiative

YEI supports young people aged 15-24 not in employment,education or training (NEETs) and implements the YouthGuarantee (applies in MS where youth unemployment > 25% in2012)

€3.2 billion YEI funding initially, matched by equal amounts ofESF and national funding.

€204 million for YEI in Ireland

Delivered as an integral part of the PEIL 2014-2020

PEIL 2014-2020

More than 20 individual activities under 5 Priority Axes –

Priority 1: Promoting the attainment of sustainable and qualityemployment through relevant upskilling measures and supportinglabour mobility.

Priority 2: Promoting social inclusion and combatingdiscrimination in the labour market

Priority 3: Investing in education, training and life-long learningwith a view to upskilling and re-skilling the labour force

Priority 4: Youth Employment Initiative

Priority 5: Technical Assistance

Priority 1: Promoting the attainment of sustainableand quality employment through relevant upskilling

measures and supporting labour mobility.

Priority 2: Promoting social inclusion and combatingdiscrimination in the labour market

Priority 3: Investing in education, training and lifelonglearning with a view to upskilling and re-skilling the

labour force

Priority 4: Youth Employment Initiative

Priority 5: Technical Assistance

• Preparation, implementation, monitoring and inspection

• Evaluation and Studies

• Information and Communication

Managing Authority

Responsible for the efficient management andimplementation of Operational Programmes

Key Functions: Selecting operations and ensuring proper financial

management and expenditure validation Supporting the work of Intermediate Bodies and

Beneficiaries Information and CommunicationsData Collection including establishing an IT system Evaluation, Reporting and Monitoring

ESF Cascade Structure

Benefits

Funding

Easier to launch activities?

Dedicated funding over a 7-year period

Evidence

Monitoring and reporting based on indicators

Robust evaluations

www.esf.ie