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Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020
European Union
Promoting access to employment, social inclusion and skills for growth
Chapter Contents Page
Executive Summary 1
1 Strategy for the Operational Programme’s Contribution to the 8 Union Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth.
2 Description of the Priority Axes. Priority Axis 1 - Access to Employment 30 Priority Axis 2 - Social Inclusion 49 Priority Axis 3 - Skills for Growth 61 Priority Axis 4 - Technical Assistance 75
3 The Financing Plan. 82
4 Integrated Approach to Territorial Development. 86
5 Specific Needs of Geographical Areas Most Affected by 90 Poverty or Target Groups at Highest Risk of Discrimination or Social Exclusion.
6 Specific Needs of Geographical Areas Which Suffer From 100 Severe and Permanent Natural or Demographic Handicaps.
7 Authorities and Bodies Responsible for Management, 102 Control and Audit and the Role of Relevant Partners.
8 Coordination Between the Funds, the EAFRD, the EMFF and 110 Other Union and National Funding Instruments, and with the EIB.
9 Ex-Ante Conditionalities. 116
10 Reduction of the Administrative Burden for Beneficiaries. 130
11 Horizontal Principles. 134
12 Separate Elements. The Performance Framework 140 Relevant Partners 141 Common Indicators 142
Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020
Programme: 2014UK05SFOP004
Department for Employment and Learning
Submitted to the European Commission 17th July 2014
Adopted by the European Commission 12th December 2014
Executive Summary Abbreviations and Acronyms
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European Social Fund 2014-2020 Northern Ireland
Main Objectives
The Strategic Aim of the ESF Programme 2014-2020 in Northern Ireland is to combat poverty and enhance social inclusion by reducing economic inactivity and to increase the skills base of those currently in work and future potential participants in the workforce.
The Programme will fund activity to enhance and extend employment opportunities, in particular, for those groups at a disadvantage in the labour market who are unemployed, including long term unemployed, or economically inactive.
There will also be a focus on supporting young people aged 16-24 who are not in employment, education or training and on people with a disability.
In addition, through the Apprenticeships and Youth Training Programme, we aim to increase the number of people in employment skilled at level 2 and 3-8 in line with employers’ needs and the needs of the economy.
This activity addresses the recommendations made to the UK through country-specific recommendations in relation to reducing the number of young people with low basic skills, and addressing skills mismatch through more advanced and higher level skills provision, and furthering the apprenticeship offer.
Specific issues related to youth unemployment and reducing the risk of social exclusion referred to in the country position paper are also being addressed.
The Northern Ireland Operating Programme is also in line with the EU 2020 Strategy for Jobs and Growth in relation to the areas reflected in targets 1 and 5 relating to employment and social inclusion and the flagship initiatives - An Agenda for new Skills and Jobs and the European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion.
Activity being funded also supports the Executive’s own Programme for Government objectives of “Growing a sustainable Economy and Investing in the Future” and “Creating opportunities, tackling disadvantage and improving health and well-being”.
Executive Summary
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Funding Priorities
The aim of the ESF programme will be realised through the implementation of Thematic objectives 8 - Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility, 9 - Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty and any discrimination and 10 - Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and life-long learning. The intervention rate is 40% with a national counterpart of 60%.
Thematic Objective 8 has been allocated 28.5% (€146.3m) of the total ESF fund. Unemployed, including long-term unemployed and economically inactive people will be targeted through this objective in order to address the significant challenges around the number of unemployed and economically inactive people in Northern Ireland as compared with the rest of the UK and Europe. There is also support for young people not in education employment or training (NEET) in line with DEL’s Pathways to Success strategy through which we aim to identify the needs of this group and provide young people with opportunities to meet those needs.
ESF funding complements significant funding already provided through existing DEL strategies, policies and programmes in these areas.
Thematic Objective 9 has been allocated 30% (€154m) of funding to support 2 distinct groups of people – people with a disability and people aged16 and over who are not in employment education or training in families receiving Community Family Support. There is a regulatory requirement for at least 20% of the total ESF funding to be allocated to thematic objective 9 within this priority axis. DEL, in conjunction with partners and stakeholders, has decided that 30% of funding will be allocated to this priority. This has been determined on the basis of the costs for supporting people with a disability under the 2007-2013 ESF programme and the costs of providing the pilot Community Family Support programme
Thematic Objective 10 has been allocated the largest proportion of funding at 40% (€205.4m) Funding is aimed at increasing the proportion of people in employment skilled at levels 2 and 3-8 through apprenticeships and youth training.This reflects the importance attached to upskilling the workforce, and ensuring the future skills needs of the Northern Ireland economy are met. DEL will provide the full 60% match funding for this priority with no input required from other bodies.
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Expected Impacts - The expected impacts are as follows:
Thematic objective 8
28,000 Unemployed (including longterm unemployed) people will be supported.
3,850 will be in employment upon leaving;
5,250 will be in employment 6 months after leaving.
12,000 Economically Inactive People will be supported.
1,650 will be in employment upon leaving;
2,250 will be in employment 6 months after leaving;
2,500 will be in education/training upon leaving.
25,000 Young People (aged 16-24) not in employment education or training
will be supported.
3,000 will be in employment upon leaving;
8,750 will be in education/training upon leaving.
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Thematic Objective 9
13,000 People with a disability will be supported.
1,300 will enter employment upon leaving;
650 will still be in employment 6 months after leaving;
1,950 will enter education/ training upon leaving.
4,200 targeted families receiving “Community Family Support”
12,600 NEET Participants aged 16 and over in Families receiving “Community
Family Support” will be supported.
6,300 will be engaged in job searching upon leaving;
2,520 will enter education/training upon leaving;
2,500 will gain a qualification upon leaving;
1,260 (10%) will be employed upon leaving.
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1 In addition to participants embarking on a Level 2 or Level 3 framework, there is potential for registration for Level 2/3. In this scenario, apprentices are pursuing an NVQ Level 2 en route to the achievement of targeted Level 3 framework qualifications. There is therefore some overlap in the figures
2 These figures are based on provision in the 2007-13 ESF programme and are likely to change following the outcome of the Review of Apprenticeship and Youth Training currently underway in Northern Ireland. At this time it is not possible to predict the final outcome of the review or the impact that it is likely to have on the numbers undertaking apprenticeship and youth training. Revised information will be made available when the new apprenticeship and training model is put in place.
€
ESF 40%€
Match Funding 60%
€
Total% of Total
Allocation
Priority Axis 1 (thematic objective 8)
58,525,631 87,788,446 146,314,077 28.5%
Priority Axis 2 (thematic objective 9)
61,605,927 92,408,890 154,014,817 30%
Priority Axis 3 (thematic objective 10)
82,141,236 123,211,854 205,353,090 40%
Priority Axis 4
Technical Assistance3,080,296 4,620,445 7,700,741 1.5%
NI ESF 2014 – 2020 Programme - Financial Allocation
Thematic Objective 10
42,000 employed Participants will be supported.
(56%) will achieve targeted Level 2 qualifications1;
(53%) will achieve targeted Level 3 qualifications or above2.
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ABBREVIATIONS
CFSP Community Family Support Programme
DARD Department of Agriculture and Rural Development
DE Department of Education
DEL Department for Employment and Learning
DETI Department for Enterprise, Trade and Investment
DFP Department of Finance and Personnel
DHSSPS Department of Health, Social Services and Public Safety
DOE Department of Environment
DRD Department for Regional Development
DSD Department for Social Development
DWP Department for Work and Pensions
EAFRD European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
EC European Community
EMFF European Maritime and Fisheries Fund
ERDF European Regional Development Fund
ESF European Social Fund
EU European Union
FE Further Education
GCE General Certificate of Education
GCSE General Certificate of Secretary Education
HE Higher Education
HMT Her Majesty’s Treasury
ICT Information and Communications Technology
IFI International Fund for Ireland
ISCED International Standards Classification of Education
JSA Jobseeker’s Allowance
LTU Long Term Unemployed
NEET Not in Education, Employment or Training
NISRA Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency
NRP National Reform Programme
NVQ National Vocational Qualification
OFM/DFM Office of the First Minister and Deputy First Minister
PMC Programme Monitoring Committee
PfG Programme for Government
R&D Research and Development
SME Small and Medium Sized Enterprise
UK United Kingdom
UKPA United Kingdom Partnership Agreement
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1.1 Strategy for the operational programme’s contribution to the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and to the achievement of economic, social and territorial cohesion
1.1.1 Description of the programme’s strategy for contributing to the delivery of the Union strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth and for achieving economic, social and territorial cohesion.
Introduction
The Department for Employment and Learning (DEL) is the designated Managing Authority for the 2014-2020 European Social Fund (ESF) in Northern Ireland and as such has been in the lead on the development of the ESF Programme for 2014-2020.
It is proposed that a single ESF programme will operate for the region, as part of a wider set of European Structural Funds programmes, encompassing the European Regional Development Fund(ERDF) the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) INTERREG V and PEACE IV programmes.
The aim of Northern Ireland’s ESF Programme 2014-2020 is: “to combat poverty and enhance social inclusion by reducing economic inactivity, and increase the skills base of those currently in work and future potential participants in the workforce”. This aim will be realised through the thematic objectives and investment priorities detailed in Table A.
1. Strategy for the Operational Programme’s Contribution to the Union Strategy for Smart, Sustainable and Inclusive Growth and the Achievement of Economic, Social and Territorial Cohesion
Priority Axis Thematic Objective Investment Priority
Priority Axis 1 (8) Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility
(i) Access to employment for job- seekers and inactive people, including the long-term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility.
(ii) Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people, in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee.
Priority Axis 2 (9) Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty and any discrimination.
(i) Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability
Priority Axis 3 (10) Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and life-long learning
(iv) Improving the labour market relevance of education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to work and strengthening vocational education and training (VET) systems and their quality, including through mechanisms for skills anticipation, adaptation of curricula and the establishment and development of work based learning systems including dual learning systems and apprenticeship schemes.
Table A: Programme Priorities
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Socio-Economic Analysis of Northern Ireland
A socio-economic assessment of Northern Ireland (which can be accessed through the following link: www.detni.gov.uk/final_socio_economic_analysis) was published in January 2013 to inform the development of the region’s Operational Programmes for both the European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the period 2014-2020. The report highlights the needs and challenges to be addressed through the ESF Programme and these are:
• Unemployment/Long term unemployment• Economic inactivity• NEETs• Combating poverty by increasing economic activity • Upskilling the workforce
Through the three thematic objectives of the 2014-2020 Programme, ESF funding will be focussed on addressing these identified areas of need.
Development needs in respect of unemployment, economic inactivity and young people who are not in employment education or training (NEET) will be addressed through ESF activity in Thematic objective 8. The needs in relation to people with a disability will be addressed through thematic objective 9. The NEET issue will also be addressed through activity in thematic objective 9 which targets families where at least one family member is NEET or in danger of falling into the NEET category. The needs identified around education and skills will be addressed through activity in thematic objective 10.
Identified Needs
Northern Ireland has been severely impacted by the global economic downturn and there are concerns that the recovery here is lagging behind the rest of the UK.
As a result of the recession, the majority of private sectors in NI have experienced significant reductions in output, with the construction sector particularly affected. Output has fallen by 30% since the start of 2008 and by 37% since its peak at the beginning of2007. Other sectors have also experienced reductions, with business & financial services contracting by around one quarter (26%) since 2008. Retail and manufacturing have also reported large reductions in output, although this pattern is not universal. For example, some sectors, most notably the agri-food sector, have reported increases in output during the downturn.
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Development needs relevant to Thematic Objective 8
Unemployment
• The slowdown in the private sector has had a significant impact on the NI labour market, with the number of people in employment falling by almost 35,000 since the employment peak in June 2008 until September 2012. The construction and manufacturing sectors have experienced the largest overall reductions in job numbers. Retail has accounted for the largest decrease within the service sector, followed by business & finance (where the job losses have not been of the same order of magnitude as the decline in output).
• The scale of total job losses in NI – equivalent to 4.9% of workforce jobs in June 2008 – has been reflected throughout the UK, with Scotland and Wales also reporting significant reductions of 5.7% and 3.2% respectively. The situation has been less acute in the English regions where the average reduction in the numbers of people in employment is 2.0%.
• The job losses in NI have resulted in a significant rise in the number of persons claiming unemployment benefits. Since February 2008, Northern Ireland has seen the largest increase in the number of claimants of unemployment benefits compared to all other UK regions (equivalent to a 152% increase to December 20133. At 7.4%, the October-December 2013 Northern Ireland ILO seasonally adjusted unemployment rate4 is above the UK average at 7.2%, though below the RoI (15%) and EU averages (10.5%).
Economic Inactivity
In addition to the very obvious impacts of the recent recession, Northern Ireland continues to face a range of structural challenges that hamper the region’s economic performance. These issues are long standing and have been widely documented – most recently in the Northern Ireland Executive’s Economic Strategy ‘Priorities for Sustainable Growth and Prosperity’ (2012) which states:
“ ...a disproportionately large percentage of the population is registered as economically inactive, with social exclusion levels well above other parts of the UK”
There was a sharp rise in the level of economic inactivity at the beginning of the downturn, with a high percentage of women in this position. Whilst the rate has subsequently fallen back, Northern Ireland has the highest rate of economic inactivity across all UK regions - 26.9% of the working age (16-64) population compared to theUK average which is 22.1%. However, the differential between the NI and UK economic
3 www.nomisweb.co.uk4 Labour Force Survey October-December 2013
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inactivity levels has reduced over the past two decades, due mainly to fewer persons being unavailable for work because of long term illness, a disability, or family/ caring responsibilities. Long-term unemployment as a proportion of the total unemployed (July - September 2013) is also higher in Northern Ireland (50.7%) than the UK (35.2%) andEU (47.9%) averages5.
Lone Parents
A baseline analysis of economic inactivity in Northern Ireland6 which was undertaken as part of the development of the Northern Ireland Inactivity strategy(2013), highlighted two inactive groups as the key targets of the strategy: those with a work-limiting long- term illness or disability, and those with family commitments, specifically lone parents.
The analysis also found that, within the lone parents category, there is a stark gender divide between men and women, Of the 73,000 registered as inactive due to family commitments, the vast majority (approximately 60,000) are women. Seventy one percent (71%) of these women have at least one dependent child. Childcare costs will continue to be provided to those participants on ESF interventions, who require it.
People with no Qualifications
The NI Labour Force Survey for the period October - December 2013 shows that 33.4% of economically inactive people in Northern Ireland had no formal qualifications, compared to 10.6% of the economically active population. Only 7.3% of the economically inactive had a degree level qualification compared to 26.4% of theeconomically active. Investment in thematic objective 8 will seek to address this situation in keeping with the aim of the NI Economic strategy which recognises the need to raise the skills level of the future workforce as well as the those currently in work.
DEL will support activity to help those furthest from the labour market overcome their barriers to employment thus enabling them to access and make progress on the skills ladder. The socio-economic analysis of Northern Ireland highlights the need to develop skills at all levels in NI. Raising the skills levels of the least skilled will not only improve employability and progress within the workplace but will also help to reduce systemic poverty and contribute to securing social inclusion.
Young People Not in Education Employment or Training (NEET)
Northern Ireland has experienced a significant rise in youth unemployment, including an increasing number of graduates. The numbers of young people who are NEET continueto rise – many of these young people have few or no qualifications and no aspirations, often facing very significant barriers to re-engagement with the labour market.
5 Labour Force Survey October-December 2013 6 http://www.delni.gov.uk/economic-inactivity-strategy-baseline-study.pdf
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The number of young people in the NEET category was increasing both in absolute terms and as a proportion of the 16-24 population even before the recession7. This would indicate that this has occurred because of more fundamental structural reasons and is not simply a product of the current global/regional economic difficulties. If Northern Ireland is to be successful economically and socially, there is a need to ensure that all young people have ready access to positive learning opportunities that allow them to develop the necessary vocational and life skills to make successful transitions into further and higher education training or employment.
The NI Labour Force Survey for the period October - December 2013,shows that there were 29,000 young people (aged from 16 to 24) in the NEET category. This represented13.2% of all young people aged 16 to 24, down 2.7 percentage points from the July - September 2013 period and 3% less than the figures for the previous year. It should be noted however that this lower estimate of the number of NEETs does not represent an improvement in the position but rather, results from a UK -wide amendment in the methodology for collection of data and counting rules applying to NEETs. The NEET problem persists in Northern Ireland and still needs to be addressed.
Development needs relevant to Thematic Objective 9
People with a Disability
As stated earlier, the baseline economic analysis of inactivity in Northern Ireland identified people with a disability as one of the groups to be targeted through the economic inactivity strategy. The October – December 2013 Labour Force survey estimates that one in five people (20.1%) aged 16 – 64 in Northern Ireland had a current long term disability8 which was higher than the UK as a whole which stood at 18.7%. The proportion of people with a disability who were economically inactive in this period was 56.2% compared with 19.3% for those without disabilities and just over a third (37.7%) were in employment compared to 75.3% of people without a disability9 The number of ESA10 recipients over the period February 2010 to August 2013 increased by433%, equivalent to an increase of 63,050 recipients.
The survey also found that only 7.4% of those with a disability held a degree or equivalent qualification, compared with 24.8% of non-disabled persons. 33% of those with a disability had no qualifications - over twice the proportion of those without a disability – 12.7%.
There will be a renewed focus in the ESF Programme on people with a disability through thematic objective 9 which places the emphasis on assisting people overcome personal barriers to social inclusion.
7 Northern Ireland Executives Pathways to Success Strategy (2012)8 As defined under The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 19959 Labour Force Survey October – December 201310 Employment and Support Allowance August 2013 http://www.dsdni.gov.uk/index/stats_and_research/benefit_publications.htm
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Community family Support
The CFSP was developed as a new approach to tackle disadvantage, social exclusion and address the significant issue of youth unemployment in Northern Ireland. The programme, which was developed by DEL, is unique in that it provides a wraparound family intervention support and employability mentoring service to help families address the health, social, economic, educational, employment and training issues that impact on their daily lives. It aims to support all family members and break the cycle of intergenerational unemployment and associated poverty in communities.
CFSP has been developed in response to the NI executive’s Programme for Government2011-201511 Priority 2 - Creating Opportunities, Tackling Disadvantage and Improving Health and Wellbeing - particularly in respect of actions around improving the participation of young people in education, employment and training leading to greater equality of opportunity in economic participation. The Northern Ireland Executive’s Economic Strategy (2012) also highlights the fact that:
“..a significant number of households have experienced intergenerational poverty or joblessness and are far removed from job readiness and the labour market “
CFSP focuses on households rather than individuals as a means of preventing young people from disengaging from education and training by improving their family environment. The Pathways to Success Strategy12 contained a commitment to developing such a programme and the Programme itself has become a signature projectof Delivering Social Change.13 Recruitment of families to the CFSP programme will be sought from a range of sources including the local network of Family Support Hubs, the relevant Health and Social Care Trusts and other family support agencies / organisations in the voluntary and community sectors. Families can also self-refer from within their local communities.
Development needs relevant to Thematic Objective 10
Education and Skills
Research completed by Oxford Economics in 2012 on behalf of DEL shows that between 2011 and 2030 under the current baseline scenario the share of workforce employment requirements for NQF 4+ qualification is forecast to rise from 33% to 45% and the share with NQF 3 qualifications from 22% to 25%;
Table B shows the qualifications of those currently in employment in the UK for the period January-March 2013.
11 http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/pfg-2011-2015-final-report.pdf12 http://www.delni.gov.uk/del-pathways-to-success-v6.pdf13 http://www.ofmdfmni.gov.uk/dsc-children-young-people-consultation-2014.pdf
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This illustrates a stark difference between NI and other parts of the UK in the proportion of workers with no qualifications and therefore a need to raise the level of qualifications across the workforce as a whole. The NI Economic Strategy identifies the need to raise the skills level of the current and future workforce as critical to the competitiveness and economic success of the region. Shortage of the right skills was also identified by the European Council in June 2012 as one of the issues constraining UK growth and employment in the medium-term.
A high quality skills base provides the platform for successful innovation, an increased export focus and productivity growth.It also acts as a powerful driver for attracting high value investment opportunities, particularly Foreign Direct Investment (FDI ). It is therefore important to invest in a high quality education and training system that has a very strong economic focus and which is flexible and responsive to changes in skills demand.
The Department’s Skills Strategy, Success through Skills-Transforming Futures – considers the current skills base in Northern Ireland, examines the skills we are likely to need in the future to grow the Northern Ireland economy and highlights a number of areas for action.
The Skills Strategy highlights that the Northern Ireland skills profile has been improving steadily over the past number of years, however more needs to be done if we are to have the skills necessary for the economy to grow as desired. Success through Skills
Table B: Qualification of those in Employment by UK Regions Jan - Mar 2013
NQF4-8 NQF3 NQF2 NQF1 No Qualification
Total
England 40.8% 19.9% 20.4% 13.5% 5.4% 24,636,000
Scotland 45.2% 18.3% 18.8% 12.0% 5.6% 2,484,000
Wales 36.9% 22.7% 21.3% 12.7% 6.3% 1,334,000
N. Ireland 36.2% 18.7% 20.9% 11.8% 12.4% 780,000
UK 40.8% 19.9% 20.3% 13.3% 5.7% 29,235,000
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– Transforming Futures outlines four strategic goals which are designed to provide a strategic, long term direction of travel for the Department and its key stakeholders up to the period 2020.
The Strategy highlights that there will be a need for:
• an increase in higher level skills;• an increase in STEM skills;• an increase in management and leadership skills;
The interim report and consultation document on the review of Apprenticeships14
which was published by DEL in January 2014, also shows that the requirements of the NI workforce in general, including apprenticeships, are changing, with an increased demand for higher level skills across the economy. As demonstrated by DEL’s most recent statistical bulletin15 the current skills model needs to give sufficient recognition to the current and future skills needs of the economy, with a particular emphasis on the region’s young people. Higher level apprenticeships have been identified in the review of apprenticeships, as a key pathway for the delivery of a greater volume of higher level skills to the Northern Ireland workforce.
The focus in the past of most apprenticeships being funded at Level 2 does not support skills projections for 2020 and beyond, with demand for lower level skills expected to halve and demand for higher level skills at Levels 3-8 set to increase significantly. The current apprenticeship framework only offers apprenticeships to level three and is therefore limited in its capacity to meet the needs of our economy.
The new model of apprenticeship and youth training, which will be put in place post2016, will aim to facilitate access to quality training with greater opportunities to progress from level 2 through to level 8.
European Strategies
In developing the proposals for the 2014-2020 ESF Programme, the priorities of EU2020 - the European Union’s ten year strategy for putting Europe’s economy back on the path to growth - have also been taken into account. The objective of the strategy is for the EU to become a smart, sustainable and inclusive economy by 2020. The main focus of the NI ESF Programme is to contribute to the attainment of inclusive growth.
Table C shows the five targets set by the EU to be achieved through the EU2020 Strategy and related programmes and initiatives, in the fields of employment, innovation, education, social inclusion and climate/energy. Through thematic objectives8, 9 and 10 as described above,the NI ESF programme is specifically focussed on the areas reflected in targets 1 and 5 relating to employment and social inclusion. Northern
14 Review of Apprenticeships Interim Report and Consultation January 201415 Department for Employment and Learning Statistical Bulletin on ApprenticeshipsNI Statistics from September 2007 to July
2013 http://www.delni.gov.uk/appsni-bulletin- nov-13.pdf
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Ireland’s employment rate currently stands at 67.6%16, which is 4.5 percentage points below the UK average. The Northern Ireland Economic Inactivity strategy aims to achieve a stable and competitive employment rate of over 70% by 2023 through a reduction in the proportion of the working age population classified as economically inactive – and the Northern Ireland Executive’s Delivering Social Change (DSC) agenda is focussed on reducing poverty and social exclusion. Both of these initiatives are described in more detail in Section 5.
16 Labour Force Survey October-December 2013
The objectives of EU 2020 are also supported by seven ‘flagship initiatives’ providing a framework through which the EU and national authorities mutually reinforce their efforts in areas supporting the Europe 2020 priorities. The key ESF-relevant flagship initiatives at EU level are:
• Youth on the Move• An Agenda for new Skills and Jobs• European Platform against Poverty and Social Exclusion
UK EU Policy – National Reform Programme
The UK National Reform Programme (NRP) 2013 sets out the actions that Government is taking to address the structural reform challenges facing the UK, in line with a set of Country-Specific Recommendations (CSRec) agreed by Heads of State or Government at the European Council in June 2012. The Council identified issues constraining UK growth and employment in the medium-term and, as referred to earlier, one of those relevant to the Northern Ireland ESF Programme was a shortage of the right skills.
Table C: EU 2020 Targets
1.Employment 75% of 20-64 year-olds to be employed
2.R&D / innovation 3% of the EU’s GDP (public and private combined) to be invested in R&D/innovation
3.Climate change/ energy Greenhouse gas emissions 20% lower than 1990 (or even 30%, if the conditions are right); 20% of energy from renewable; 20% increase in energy efficiency
4.Education Reducing school drop-out rates below 10%. At least 40% of 30-34 year-olds completing tertiary education
5. Reducing poverty and social exclusion
Lifting at least 20 million people out of the risk of poverty and social exclusion
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UK Country-Specific Recommendations
In the UK Country Specific Recommendations, published by the European Commission17, the Commission highlighted the UK’s most pressing challenges as decreasing labour market opportunities and the increasing risk of social exclusion, and advocated that interventions should concentrate on a limited number of priorities for the2014-2020 period which were:
• increasing labour market participation through improved labour market and education policies; and
• reducing the risk of social exclusion.
Particular emphasis, it was argued, should be placed on improving the employability of young people not in employment, education or training (NEET). In terms of specific activities, the Commission advocates that the UK should concentrate intervention by the ESI Funds on:
• enhancing access to lifelong learning, vocational training and apprenticeships;• increasing the labour market relevance of education and training systems; and• ensuring that these systems have sufficient focus on advanced and higher level skills.
The Commission also highlighted a particular link between employability and social inclusion by recommending that:
“In order to reduce the risk of social exclusion, the ESI funds should focus on .... integrating into the labour market people from workless households, low-skilled and inactive people moved off benefits into the labour market, disadvantaged individuals, especially those facing multiple disadvantages, lone parents with caring responsibilities”
In the UK Country-Specific Recommendations, published in June 2014, the Commission highlighted that while the United Kingdom continues to address the challenges of unemployment as well as the specific issues related to youth unemployment, there remain important challenges with equipping young people with the skills and work experience required by the labour market and increasing the supply of apprenticeships.
The recommendations paper states that the labour market suffers from skill mismatches and while the authorities are attempting to re-skill the workforce to address both unemployment and a shortage of high-quality vocational and technical skills, further work is required to improve the quality of apprenticeship programmes.
These issues are being addressed directly through activity in thematic objective 10 and through the reviews of apprenticeships and youth training underway in Northern Ireland.
17 6th December 2012
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The Commission recommends that the UK:
• Maintain commitment to the Youth Contract, especially by improving skills that meet employer needs.
• Ensure employer engagement by placing emphasis on addressing skills mismatches through more advanced and higher level skills provision and furthering apprenticeship offers.
• Reduce the number of young people with low basic skills.
As described earlier, all of the actions to be undertaken through thematic objectives 8,9 and 10 of the 2014-2020 ESF Programme, will contribute to addressing these issues.This can be summed up in the overall aim of the Northern ireland ESF Programme for 2014-2020, described earlier, which is “to combat poverty and enhance social inclusion by reducing economic inactivity, and increase the skills base of those currently in work and future potential participants in the workforce”.
Northern Ireland Executive Policy
This is also reflected in the NI Executive Programme for Government 2011-201518
and, in particular, the following priority area:
• Growing a Sustainable Economy and Investing in the Future; and,• Creating opportunities, tackling disadvantage and improving health and well- being”.
The NI Executive is committed to an economic vision for Northern Ireland which is underpinned by higher value-added jobs, enhancements to productivity and competitiveness, increased skill levels and improved participation in education and training. Of particular focus within this programming period will be the economic challenges facing Northern Ireland.
To address these challenges, the Executive has developed and is implementing a number of key strategies and the Northern Ireland ESF Programme has been developed within this context and will support relevant policies within these strategies which are outlined below.
Economic Inactivity Strategy (2013)
The Northern Ireland Executive’s Programme for Government includes a commitment for the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department for Enterprise Trade and Investment to develop and implement a strategy to reduce economic inactivity through skills, training, incentives and job creation. Northern Ireland has had persistently high levels of economic inactivity for over 30 years, ranging between 26% and 32% of the working age population (16 - 64 years), irrespective of changes in the economic cycle. The Economic Inactivity Strategic Framework outlines a systematic approach to addressing the key themes associated with economic inactivity in Northern Ireland.
18 http://www.northernireland.gov.uk/pfg-2011-2015-final-report.pdf
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Northern Ireland Economic Strategy (NIES) (2013)
The NIES has a dual focus; to rebalance the economy to improve the wealth, employment and living standards of everyone in Northern Ireland, and to rebuild the economy by addressing the impact of the global economic downturn, particularly on employment.
Essential Skills Strategy
The Essential Skills strategy and action plan sets out measures to improve literacy, numeracy and ICT skills in Northern Ireland. Given the high volume of people in Northern Ireland with no qualifications, this strategy and action plan will enable those without qualifications to access the skills ladder.
Delivering Social Change (DSC)
This is a comprehensive new delivery framework developed by the NI Executive which aims to deliver the following two outcomes:
• a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues, across all ages and;• an improvement in children and young people’s health, wellbeing and life opportunities,
thereby breaking the long-term cycle of multi-generational problems. It is described in more detail in section 5 as is its signature project, Community Family Support.
The Skills Strategy for Northern Ireland: Success through Skills – Transforming Futures (2011)
This strategy articulates the overarching vision for the development of skills in NorthernIreland. Its key aim is to:
“enable people to access and progress up the skills ladder”, in order to:
• raise the skills levels of the whole workforce;• raise productivity;• increase levels of social inclusion by enhancing the employability of those currently
excluded from the labour market; and• secure Northern Ireland’s future in a global marketplace.
The strategy sets out, in detail, what needs to be done by 2020, and for whom, if Northern Ireland is to compete successfully in a global market place
In order to support the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy’s aim to rebuild and rebalance the economy, DEL has also identified a number of industry sectors on which it will focus its employment and skills provision. These are:
20
Rebalancing:
• Business services (specifically ICT);• Financial services;• Manufacturing (including food and drink/agri-food, advanced manufacturing and
advanced engineering);• the emerging sector of Life and Health Sciences; and• the emerging sector of Creative Industries and Digital Media.
Rebuilding:
• Hotels and Catering (in support of Tourism) and,• Retail
Together: Building a United Community (2013)
• The Together: Building a United Community strategy reflects the Executive’s commitment to improving community relations and continuing the journey towards a more united and shared society. It outlines a vision based on equality of opportunity, the desirability of good relations and reconciliation.
• The strategy also outlines how research demonstrates that alienation among young people is closely correlated to issues of deprivation, high levels of poverty and low educational attainment and recognises that in order to build good relations, the underlying issues that cause some of our young people to become disengaged from their community must be addressed.
Access to Success (2012)
This is the Regional Strategy for Widening Participation in Higher Education that targets people from disadvantaged backgrounds and students with learning difficulties and disabilities.
Further Education Means Business (2006)
This strategy sets out the vision for further education and how it will play a vital role in the delivery of the economic vision for Northern Ireland, strengthening economic development, enhancing social cohesion and advancing the individual’s skills and learning.
Preparing For Success (2009)
The Careers Education, Information, Advice and Guidance Strategy and Implementation Plan, published jointly by the Department of Education and the Department for Employment and Learning in January 2009, aims to develop effective career decision makers leading to increased and appropriate participation in education, training and employment. Careers advice is available to all participants on ESF programmes.
21
Working for Success (2011)
This is the strategy that underpins the delivery of DEL’s Employment Service. The strategy sets out how the Service will be transformed, modernised and delivered to meet the needs of unemployed clients and employers. The strategy also includes a review of disability services to ensure that the employment needs of people with a disability are addressed.
Pathways to Success (2012)
Pathways to Success is the strategy for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET), which was endorsed by the Executive in May 2012. This strategy joins up actions being taken across the Executive to prevent young people falling into the NEET category in the first place with measures to also re-engage those who have left school and have not secured any other form of education, training or employment.ESF investment in this area reflects the importance attached by the Northern Ireland authorities to tackling this problem.
All of these strategies respond to identified needs in Northern Ireland while at the same time contributing to addressing the broad Objectives of EU 2020.
1.1.2 A justification for the choice of thematic objectives and corresponding investment priorities having regard to the partnership agreement, based on an identification of regional and, where appropriate, national needs including the need to address the challenges identified in relevant country-specific recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 121(2) TFEU and the relevant Council recommendations adopted in accordance with Article 148(4) TFEU, taking into account the ex-ante evaluation.
Table 1 details the justification for the choice of thematic objectives and corresponding investment priorities.
22
Tab
le 1
: Jus
tifi
cati
on
for
the
sele
ctio
n o
f th
emat
ic o
bje
ctiv
es a
nd in
vest
men
t p
rio
riti
es
Sel
ecte
d t
hem
atic
o
bje
ctiv
eS
elec
ted
in
vest
men
t p
rio
rity
Just
ifica
tio
n fo
r se
lect
ion
08 -
Pro
mot
ing
sust
aina
ble
and
qual
ity
empl
oym
ent
and
supp
ortin
g la
bour
m
obilit
y
09 -
Pro
mot
ing
soci
al
incl
usio
n, c
omba
ting
pove
rty
and
any
disc
rimin
atio
n
08 -
Pro
mot
ing
sust
aina
ble
and
qual
ity
empl
oym
ent a
nd
supp
ortin
g la
bour
mob
ility
8i -
Acc
ess
to e
mpl
oym
ent f
or jo
b se
eker
s an
d in
activ
e pe
ople
, inc
ludi
ng
the
long
term
une
mpl
oyed
and
peo
ple
far
from
the
labo
ur m
arke
t, al
so th
roug
h lo
cal e
mpl
oym
ent i
nitia
tives
and
sup
port
fo
r la
bour
mob
ility
9i -
Act
ive
incl
usio
n, in
clud
ing
with
a
view
to p
rom
otin
g eq
ual o
ppor
tuni
ties
and
activ
e pa
rtic
ipat
ion,
and
impr
ovin
g em
ploy
abilit
y
8ii -
Sus
tain
able
inte
grat
ion
into
the
labo
ur
mar
ket o
f you
ng p
eopl
e (E
SF)
, in
part
icul
ar
thos
e no
t in
empl
oym
ent,
educ
atio
n or
tr
aini
ng, i
nclu
ding
you
ng p
eopl
e at
ris
k of
soc
ial e
xclu
sion
and
you
ng p
eopl
e fro
m m
argi
nalis
ed c
omm
uniti
es, i
nclu
ding
th
roug
h th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e Yo
uth
Gua
rant
ee
Con
trib
utes
to E
U 2
020
head
line
targ
et to
rais
e to
75%
em
ploy
men
t rat
e fo
r m
en a
nd w
omen
. Lon
g-te
rm u
nem
ploy
men
t (Ju
ly S
epte
mbe
r 20
13) i
s hi
gher
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd (5
0.7%
) tha
n th
e av
erag
es fo
r bo
th th
e U
K (3
5.2%
) and
EU
(47.
9%).
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
rate
of e
cono
mic
ac
tivity
is 2
6.9%
. The
UK
ave
rage
is 2
2.1%
.
In li
ne w
ith E
urop
e202
0 Fl
agsh
ip in
itiat
ive
– A
gend
a fo
r ne
w s
kills
and
jobs
,CS
Rs(
2012
) to
incr
ease
labo
ur m
arke
t par
ticip
atio
n, C
SR
s(20
14)
to c
ontin
ue a
ddre
ss th
e ch
alle
nges
of u
nem
ploy
men
t, D
EL
Pro
gram
me
for
Gov
ernm
ent c
omm
itmen
ts to
dev
elop
and
impl
emen
t a s
trat
egy
to re
duce
eco
nom
ic in
activ
ity th
roug
h sk
ills, t
rain
ing,
ince
ntiv
es a
nd jo
b cr
eatio
n.Th
ese
activ
ities
will
addr
ess
the
twin
obj
ectiv
es o
f inc
reas
ing
empl
oyab
ility
and
soci
al in
clus
ion.
The
mid
-ter
m e
valu
atio
n re
port
on
the
2007
-201
3 E
SF
prog
ram
me
reco
gnis
ed th
e ne
ed to
reta
in a
str
ong
focu
s on
con
tinui
ng E
SF
inte
rven
tions
on
empl
oym
ent a
nd s
kills
.
In li
ne w
ithC
ount
ry s
peci
fic re
cs (2
012)
(red
ucin
g th
e ris
k of
soc
ial e
xclu
sion
), E
U 2
020
targ
et to
redu
cing
pov
erty
and
soc
ial e
xclu
sion
and
th
e E
U20
20 F
lags
hip
initi
ativ
e E
urop
ean
Pla
tform
aga
inst
Pov
erty
. Str
and
A w
ill ad
dres
s th
e fo
llow
ing
issu
es:-
Incr
ease
of
433%
in n
umbe
r of
ES
A re
cipi
ents
ove
r th
e pe
riod
Febr
uary
201
0 to
Aug
ust 2
013,
56.2
% o
f peo
ple
with
a d
isab
ility,
age
d 16
-64,
wer
e ec
onom
ical
ly in
activ
e co
mpa
red
with
19.
3% fo
r th
ose
with
out d
isab
ilitie
s. 3
7.7%
of d
isab
led
pers
ons
are
in e
mpl
oym
ent c
ompa
red
to
75.3
% o
f non
-dis
able
d.
Act
ivity
in th
is a
rea
is in
line
with
CS
Rs
(201
2) a
ddre
ssed
by
EU
Com
mis
sion
to th
e U
K:-
• C
ontin
ue to
impr
ove
the
empl
oyab
ility
of y
oung
peo
ple,
in p
artic
ular
thos
e no
t in
educ
atio
n,em
ploy
men
t or
trai
ning
. And
CS
R(2
014)
to•
Red
uce
the
num
ber
of y
oung
peo
ple
with
low
bas
ic s
kills
.
In li
ne w
ith N
I Exe
cutiv
e P
rogr
amm
e fo
r G
over
nmen
t com
mitm
ent:
• S
uppo
rt p
eopl
e (w
ith a
n em
phas
is o
n yo
ung
peop
le) i
nto
empl
oym
ent b
y pr
ovid
ing
skills
and
trai
ning
In li
ne w
ith E
U20
20 F
lags
hip
Initi
ativ
e “Y
outh
on
the
Mov
e
Will
cont
ribut
e to
rai
sing
to 7
5% th
e em
ploy
men
t rat
e fo
r m
en a
nd w
omen
(EU
202
0 he
adlin
e ta
rget
).
In li
ne w
ith P
athw
ays
to S
ucce
ss S
trat
egy(
2012
)
This
inve
stm
ent p
riorit
y w
ill re
duce
the
num
ber
of y
oung
peo
ple
in N
I who
are
NE
ET.
The
num
ber
cont
inue
s to
ris
e. T
he m
ost
rece
nt la
bour
For
ce S
urve
y(O
ctob
er-
Dec
embe
r 20
13) p
uts
the
num
ber
of y
oung
peo
ple
in th
is c
ateg
ory
at 2
9,00
0.
23
Tab
le 1
: Jus
tifi
cati
on
for
the
sele
ctio
n o
f th
emat
ic o
bje
ctiv
es a
nd in
vest
men
t p
rio
riti
es
Sel
ecte
d t
hem
atic
o
bje
ctiv
eS
elec
ted
in
vest
men
t p
rio
rity
Just
ifica
tio
n fo
r se
lect
ion
10 -
Inve
stin
g in
ed
ucat
ion,
trai
ning
and
vo
catio
nal
trai
ning
for
skills
and
lif
elon
g le
arni
ng
10iv
- Im
prov
ing
the
labo
ur m
arke
t re
leva
nce
of e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
sy
stem
s, fa
cilit
atin
g th
e tr
ansi
tion
from
ed
ucat
ion
to w
ork,
and
str
engt
heni
ng
voca
tiona
l edu
catio
n an
d tr
aini
ng s
yste
ms
and
thei
r qu
ality
, inc
ludi
ng th
roug
h m
echa
nism
s fo
r sk
ills a
ntic
ipat
ion,
ad
apta
tion
of c
urric
ula
and
the
esta
blis
hmen
t and
dev
elop
men
t of w
ork
base
d le
arni
ng s
yste
ms,
incl
udin
g du
al
lear
ning
sys
tem
s an
d ap
pren
tices
hip
sche
mes
Str
and
B o
f the
inve
stm
ent p
riorit
y is
In li
ne w
ith D
EL
Pro
gram
me
for
Gov
ernm
ent c
omm
itmen
t to
Sup
port
peo
ple
(with
an
emph
asis
on
youn
g pe
ople
) int
o em
ploy
men
t by
prov
idin
g sk
ills a
nd tr
aini
ng a
nd w
ith th
e co
untr
y-sp
ecifi
c re
com
men
datio
n (2
012)
to c
ontin
ue to
impr
ove
the
empl
oyab
ility
of y
oung
peo
ple,
in p
artic
ular
thos
e w
ho a
re N
EE
T an
d w
ith C
SR
(201
4) in
resp
ect o
f Red
ucin
g th
e nu
mbe
r of
you
ng p
eopl
e w
ith
low
bas
ic s
kills
.
Will
faci
litat
e pr
ovis
ion
to e
nhan
ce w
orkf
orce
ski
lls, i
nclu
ding
sup
port
for
high
er le
vel s
kills
. Res
earc
h co
mpl
eted
by
Oxf
ord
Eco
nom
ics
in
2012
sho
ws
that
bet
wee
n 20
11 a
nd 2
030
the
shar
e of
wor
kfor
ce e
mpl
oym
ent r
equi
rem
ents
for
NQ
F 4+
qua
lifica
tion
is fo
reca
st to
rise
from
33
% to
45%
and
the
shar
e w
ith N
QF
3 qu
alifi
catio
ns fr
om 2
2% to
25%
; N
I has
the
low
est n
umbe
r of p
eopl
e in
the
wor
kfor
ce q
ualifi
ed to
NQ
F 4-
8, th
e se
cond
low
est w
ith N
QF
3 an
d th
e hi
ghes
t lev
el w
ith n
o qu
alifi
catio
ns.
In li
ne w
ith C
SR
s 20
1) to
enh
ance
acc
ess
to li
felo
ng le
arni
ng, v
ocat
iona
l tra
inin
g an
d ap
pren
tices
hips
, inc
reas
e th
e la
bour
mar
ket r
elev
ance
of
edu
catio
n an
d tr
aini
ng s
yste
ms
and
ensu
re th
at th
ese
syst
ems
have
suf
ficie
nt fo
cus
on a
dvan
ced
and
high
er le
vel s
kills
.
In li
ne w
ith C
SR
s 20
14 to
ens
ure
empl
oyer
eng
agem
ent b
y pl
acin
g em
phas
is o
n ad
dres
sing
ski
lls m
ism
atch
es th
roug
h m
ore
adva
nced
and
hi
gher
leve
l ski
lls p
rovi
sion
and
furt
herin
g ap
pren
tices
hip
offe
rs.
It sh
ould
be
note
d th
at a
ll ot
her
part
s of
the
coun
ty s
peci
fic re
com
men
datio
ns th
at a
re n
ot c
over
ed b
y E
SF
will
be c
o-fu
nded
by
the
Exc
hequ
er.
24
1.2 Justification for the financial allocation
Justification for the financial allocation (Union support) to each thematic objective and, where appropriate, investment priority, in accordance with the thematic concentration requirements, taking into account the ex-ante evaluation.
Union support for the operational programme will be 40%.
Priority axis 3 – Skills for Growth – has been allocated the largest proportion of funding at 40%. This reflects the importance attached to upskilling the workforce, at levels 2-3 and 4-8, which will ensure the future skills needs of the Northern Ireland economy are met. DEL will provide the full 60% match funding for this priority with no input required from other bodies.
Priority axis 2 – Promoting social inclusion and combating poverty – has been allocated 30% of funding. There is a regulatory requirement for at least 20% of the total ESF funding to be allocated to thematic objective 9 within this priority axis however DEL, in conjunction with partners and stakeholders, has decided that 30% of funding will be allocated to this priority. This has been determined on the basis of the costs for supporting people with a disability under the 2007-2013 ESF programme and the costs of providing the pilot Community Family Support programme.
Priority axis 1 – Access to employment – has been allocated 28.5% of the total ESF fund based on equivalent spend in the current programme. ESF funding complements significant funding already provided through existing DEL strategies, policies and programmes in this area and reflects the significant challenges around the number of unemployed, long-term unemployed and economically inactive people in NorthernIreland as compared with the rest of the UK and Europe. There is significant financial support for young people not in education, employment or training (NEET) in line with DEL’s Pathways to Success strategy through which we aim to identify the needs of this group and provide young people with opportunities to meet those needs.
Technical Assistance
Technical assistance will be allocated 1.5% of the total fund allocation to support the effective management and implementation of the Northern Ireland ESF programme structures and achievement of the aim and objectives of the Programme.
Table D shows the breakdown of expenditure across the thematic objectives and investment priorities of the 2014-2020 Programme.
An overview of the Investment Strategy for the Operating Programme is provided in Table 2.
25
Table D: NI ESF Programme 2014 - 2020 Total Financial Allocation €513,382,726
Esf @ 40%National
Counterpart Total % Of
Allocation
€ € €
Priority Axis 1
Thematic Objective 8. 1 34,139,951 51,209,927 85,349,878 28.5
Thematic Objective 8. 2 24,385,680 36,578,519 60,964,199
Priority Axis 2
Thematic Objective 9 (i) A 51,071,313 76,606,970 127,678,284 30.0
Thematic Objective 9 (i) B 10,534,614 15,801,920 26,336,534
Priority Axis 3
Thematic Objective 10 82,141,236 123,211,854 205,353,090 40.0
Priority Axis 4
Technical Assistance 3,080,296 4,620,445 7,700,741 1.5
Total 205,353,090 308,029,635 513,382,725 100
26
Tab
le 2
: Ove
rvie
w o
f th
e in
vest
men
t st
rate
gy
of
the
op
erat
iona
l pro
gra
mm
eP
rio
rity
axi
sFu
ndU
nio
n su
pp
ort
(€)
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f to
tal
Uni
on
sup
po
rt f
or
the
op
erat
iona
l pro
gra
mm
e
Co
mm
on
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c re
sult
ind
icat
ors
fo
r w
hich
a t
arg
et h
as b
een
set
The
mat
ic o
bje
ctiv
e /
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty /
S
pec
ific
ob
ject
ive
21
61,6
05,9
27E
SF
30.%
[PS
R3,
PS
R4,
PS
R5]
(PS
R3)
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
upo
n le
avin
g
(PS
R4
) Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
upon
leav
ing
(PS
R5)
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,s
ix m
onth
s af
ter
leav
ing
upon
leav
ing
58,5
25,6
31E
SF
28.5
%[C
R02
, CR
04, C
R06
]
(CR
04) P
artic
ipan
ts in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
upon
leav
ing
(CR
06) P
artic
ipan
ts in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
six
mon
ths
afte
r le
avin
g
(CR
02) P
artic
ipan
ts i
n ed
ucat
ion/
trai
ning
upo
n le
avin
g
[PS
R1,
PS
R2]
(PS
R1)
Par
ticip
ants
in e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
upo
n le
avin
g ag
ed 1
6 -
24
(PS
R2)
Par
ticip
ants
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, up
on le
avin
g ag
ed 1
6 -
24
8 -
Pro
mot
ing
sust
aina
ble
and
qual
ity e
mpl
oym
ent a
nd s
uppo
rtin
g la
bour
m
obilit
y
8i -
Acc
ess
to e
mpl
oym
ent f
or jo
b se
eker
s an
d in
activ
e pe
ople
, inc
ludi
ng
the
long
term
une
mpl
oyed
and
peo
ple
far f
rom
the
labo
ur m
arke
t, al
so
thro
ugh
loca
l em
ploy
men
t ini
tiativ
es a
nd s
uppo
rt fo
r la
bour
mob
ility
(a) -
To
redu
ce u
nem
ploy
men
t by
assi
stin
g th
ose
furt
hest
from
the
labo
ur m
arke
t to
ove
rcom
e th
eir
barr
iers
to a
cces
sing
and
sus
tain
ing
empl
oym
ent.
(b) -
To
com
bat e
cono
mic
inac
tivity
by
help
ing
indi
vidu
als
to m
ake
the
tran
sitio
n to
war
ds th
e la
bour
mar
ket
8ii -
Sus
tain
able
inte
grat
ion
into
the
labo
ur m
arke
t of y
oung
peo
ple
(ES
F), i
n pa
rtic
ular
thos
e no
t in
empl
oym
ent,
educ
atio
n or
trai
ning
, in
clud
ing
youn
g pe
ople
at r
isk
of s
ocia
l exc
lusi
on a
nd y
oung
peo
ple
from
m
argi
nalis
ed c
omm
uniti
es, i
nclu
ding
thro
ugh
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
Yout
h G
uara
ntee
- To
redu
ce th
e nu
mbe
r of 1
6-24
yea
r old
s w
ho a
re n
ot in
em
ploy
men
t ed
ucat
ion
or tr
aini
ng.
9 -
Pro
mot
ing
soci
al in
clus
ion,
com
batin
g po
vert
y an
d an
y di
scrim
inat
ion
9i -
Act
ive
incl
usio
n, in
clud
ing
with
a v
iew
to p
rom
otin
g eq
ual
oppo
rtun
ities
and
act
ive
part
icip
atio
n, a
nd im
prov
ing
empl
oyab
ility
(a) -
Enh
ance
soc
ial i
nclu
sion
by
redu
cing
une
mpl
oym
ent i
n pe
ople
with
a
disa
bilit
y
27
Tab
le 2
: Ove
rvie
w o
f th
e in
vest
men
t st
rate
gy
of
the
op
erat
iona
l pro
gra
mm
eP
rio
rity
axi
sFu
ndU
nio
n su
pp
ort
(€
)
[PS
R6,
PS
R7,
PS
R8,
PS
R9]
(PS
R6)
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d 16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt e
ngag
ed in
ed
ucat
ion/
trai
ning
(PS
R7)
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d 16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt e
ngag
ed in
job
sear
chin
g
(PS
R8)
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d 16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt e
ngag
ed in
ga
inin
g a
qual
ifica
tion
(PS
R9)
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d 16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt e
ngag
ed in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self
empl
oym
ent,
upon
leav
ing
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f to
tal U
nio
n su
pp
ort
fo
r th
e o
per
atio
nal
pro
gra
mm
e
Co
mm
on
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c re
sult
in
dic
ato
rs f
or
whi
ch a
tar
get
has
bee
n se
t
The
mat
ic o
bje
ctiv
e /
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty /
Sp
ecifi
c o
bje
ctiv
e
(b) -
Enh
ance
soc
ial i
nclu
sion
by
redu
cing
the
num
ber o
f NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d 16
and
ove
r with
in fa
milie
s re
ceiv
ing
Com
mun
ity F
amily
S
uppo
rt (C
FSP
)
43
3,08
0,29
6.00
82,1
41,2
36
ES
F
ES
F
1.5%
40%
[PS
R10
, PS
R11
]
(PS
R10
) - *
56%
of p
artic
ipan
ts w
ill ac
hiev
e ta
rget
ed
Leve
l 2 q
ualifi
catio
ns
(PS
R11
) - *
53%
of p
artic
ipan
ts w
ill ac
hiev
e ta
rget
ed
Leve
l 3 q
ualifi
catio
ns o
r ab
ove
4 -
To s
uppo
rt th
e ef
fect
ive
man
agem
ent a
nd im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd E
SF
prog
ram
me
stru
ctur
es a
nd a
chie
vem
ent o
f the
P
rogr
amm
e’s
aim
and
obj
ectiv
es.
10 -
Inve
stin
g in
edu
catio
n, tr
aini
ng a
nd v
ocat
iona
l tra
inin
g fo
r sk
ills a
nd
lifel
ong
lear
ning
10iv
- Im
prov
ing
the
labo
ur m
arke
t rel
evan
ce o
f edu
catio
n an
d tr
aini
ng s
yste
ms,
faci
litat
ing
the
tran
sitio
n fro
m e
duca
tion
to w
ork,
and
st
reng
then
ing
voca
tiona
l edu
catio
n an
d tr
aini
ng s
yste
ms
and
thei
r qu
ality
, inc
ludi
ng th
roug
h m
echa
nism
s fo
r sk
ills a
ntic
ipat
ion,
ada
ptat
ion
of c
urric
ula
and
the
esta
blis
hmen
t and
dev
elop
men
t of w
ork
base
d le
arni
ng s
yste
ms,
incl
udin
g du
al le
arni
ng s
yste
ms
and
appr
entic
eshi
p sc
hem
es
- To
incr
ease
the
prop
ortio
n of
peo
ple
in e
mpl
oym
ent s
kille
d at
leve
ls 2
an
d 3-
8 th
roug
h ap
pren
tices
hips
and
you
th tr
aini
ng
28
In delivering ESF funded operations in Northern Ireland, the following should be taken into account.
EU Public Procurement Rules
When spending ESI funds by means of public contract/concessions, national authorities will have to respect EU public procurement rules and in particular (i) Directives 2004/18/EC and 2004/17/EC, (ii) Directives 2014/23/EU, 2014/24/EU and 2014/25/EU once transposed into national legislation, (iii) Directive 2007/66/EC (amending Directives 89/665/EEC and 92/13/EEC), and (iv) the general public procurement principles derived from the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU.
State Aid
The Commission also draws attention to the fact that the Decision approving the OP is without prejudice to the Commission position regarding compliance of any operation supported under that programme with the procedural and substantive State aid rules applicable at the time when the support is granted.
The granting of State aid falling within the scope of Article 107(1) TFEU, granted under aid schemes or in individual cases, requires prior approval by the Commission under Article 108(3) TFEU, except where the aid is exempted under an exemption regulation adopted by the Commission under Council Regulation (EC) No 994/98 of 7 May 1998 on the application of Articles 92 and 93 to certain categories of horizontal aid and its amendments 19 or under Commission Decision of 20 December 2011 on the application of Article 106(2) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union to State aid in the form of public service compensation granted to certain undertakings entrusted with the operation of services of general economic interest20 or granted as general de minimis aid.
19 OJ L 142, 14.5.1998, p. 1-4 and OJ L 204, 31.07.2013, p. 1120 OJ L 7, 11.01.2012, p.3-10
29
30
2. Priority Axes
2.A Description of the Priority Axes
2.A.1 Priority axis 1
2.A.4 Investment priority
Fund Category of region
Calculation basis (total eligible expenditure or eligible public expenditure)
Category of region for outermost regions and northern sparsely populated regions (where applicable)
Title of the priority axis
Title of the investment priority
ID of the priority axis
ID of the investment priority
1
8i
Access to Employment
Access to employment for job seekers and inactive people, including the long term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility
ESF Transition Public N/A
2.A.2 Justification for the establishment of a priority axis covering more than one category of region, thematic objective or fund (where applicable)
This is not applicable to Northern Ireland.
2.A.3 Fund, category of region and calculation basis for Union support
31
2.A.5 Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results
Title of the specific objective
ID of the specific objective
Title of the specific objective
Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
ID of the specific objective
Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
1(a)
To reduce unemployment by assisting those furthest from the labour market to overcome their barriers to accessing and sustaining employment.
We will support a total of 28,000 unemployed, including long term unemployed participants through this investment priority and would expect the following results:
- 3,850 (13.75%) participants in employment upon leaving and;
- 5,250 (18.75%) participants in employment 6 months after leaving.
1(b)
To combat economic inactivity by helping individuals to make the transition towards the labour market
We will support a total of 12,000 inactive participants through this investment priority and would expect the following results:
- 1,650 (13.75%) participants in employment upon leaving and:
- 2,250 (18.75%) participants in employment 6 months after leaving;
- 2,500 (13.75%) participants in education/training upon leaving
32
Tab
le 4
: Co
mm
on
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs f
or
whi
ch a
tar
get
val
ue h
as b
een
set
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c re
sult
ind
icat
ors
co
rres
po
ndin
g
to t
he s
pec
ific
ob
ject
ive
(by
inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty a
nd c
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion)
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty :
8i -
Acc
ess
to e
mp
loym
ent f
or
job
see
kers
and
inac
tive
peo
ple
, inc
lud
ing
the
long
ter
m u
nem
plo
yed
and
peo
ple
far
fro
m t
he la
bo
ur m
arke
t, a
lso
thr
oug
h lo
cal e
mp
loym
ent
init
iati
ves
and
sup
po
rt f
or
lab
our
mo
bili
ty
IDIn
dic
ato
rC
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
ind
icat
or
Co
mm
on
out
put
in
dic
ato
r us
ed a
s b
asis
fo
r ta
rget
se
ttin
g
Bas
elin
e va
lue
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
bas
elin
e an
d t
arg
et
Bas
elin
e ye
arTa
rget
val
ue
(202
3)S
our
ce o
f d
ata
Freq
uenc
y o
f re
po
rtin
g
Tota
lTo
tal
CR
02pa
rtic
ipan
ts in
edu
catio
n/tr
aini
ng u
pon
leav
ing
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
rin
activ
e, n
ot in
ed
ucat
ion
or tr
aini
ng13
.75%
Num
ber
2014
2,50
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs
Ann
ual
CR
04pa
rtic
ipan
ts in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
upon
le
avin
g
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
run
empl
oyed
, in
clud
ing
long
-ter
m
unem
ploy
ed
12.7
8%N
umbe
r20
143,
850
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect p
rovi
ders
.
Ann
ual
CR
04pa
rtic
ipan
ts in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
upo
n le
avin
g
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
rin
activ
e12
.78%
Num
ber
2014
1,65
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs
Ann
ual
CR
06pa
rtic
ipan
ts in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
six
m
onth
s af
ter
leav
ing
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
run
empl
oyed
, in
clud
ing
long
-ter
m
unem
ploy
ed
14.7
5%N
umbe
r20
145,
250
Follo
w u
p su
rvey
Ann
ual
CR
06pa
rtic
ipan
ts in
em
ploy
men
t, in
clud
ing
self-
empl
oym
ent,
six
m
onth
s af
ter
leav
ing
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
rin
activ
e14
.75%
Num
ber
2014
2,25
0Fo
llow
up
surv
ey
cond
ucte
dA
nnua
l
33
2.A.6 Action to be supported under the investment priority (by investment priority)
Investment priority
2.A.6.1 Description of the type and examples of actions to be supported and their expected contribution to the specific objectives including, whereappropriate, the identification of main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries.
8i - Access to employment for job seekers and inactive people, including the long term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility
Projects funded under this investment priority will support participants to enhance job search skills, improve confidence and acquire the necessary skills to access sustainable employment. This will entail both classroom and workplace activity. Participants will also have the opportunity to attain recognised qualifications.
The activities are complementary to those already being undertaken through regional economic, employment and social inclusion strategies referred to in Section 1. They will address the dual objectives of increasing employability and social inclusion as advocated by the European Commission in the UK Country Specific Recommendations and are in line with the objectives of Europe 2020 Flagship Initiatives, ‘An Agenda for new skills and jobs’ and the ’European Platform Against Poverty’.
In keeping with the approach taken in the NIESF programme 2007 – 2013, and taking account of the particular needs of lone parents in accessing training opportunities, the cost of childcare will be provided to participants.
Example of Actions to be supported under Investment Priority 1. Specific actions in support of this investment priority may include:-
• Detailed assessment of needs taking into account personal barriers to employment, family and social circumstances, work based skills, social problems
• Preparation of an individual action plan to provide participants with support, training advice, work placement or employment
• Help, advice and guidance with job-search • Personal advice and mentoring where appropriate, to assist clients into employment • Pre- vocational and access training, community based activities such as volunteering and environmental activities • Acquisition of soft skills such as improved confidence and motivation • Acquisition of work skills and workplace skills such as team-working • Vocational training and qualifications for employability • Advice and support for self employment and business creation • Employer liaison to identify suitable work placements/job opportunities
34
2.A.6.2 Guiding principles for selection of operations
Investment priority
8i - Access to employment for job seekers and inactive people, including the long term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility
The following overarching principles will underpin project selection across all investment priorities:
• All project activity must adhere to the horizontal principles of equality and non discrimination and the values of sustainable development.
• All planned activity should focus on enabling participants to access sustainable employment.
• All interventions and skills support should be designed to support individuals to achieve this goal.
• Skills interventions where needed will aim to assist participants to achieve up to NVQ Level 1 and encourage progression.
• For those furthest from the labour market, activities should be tailor made and measures of success that encompass soft outcomes such as improved self esteem and increased confidence may be used.
• The use of models such as social enterprises, where possible, is to be encouraged.
• Actions should be flexible and responsive to labour market fluctuations utilising labour market information which identifies skills needs and future trends in Northern Ireland, in order to ensure employment supply meets employment demand.
• Activity should demonstrate clear added value when compared with other ways of supporting and delivering policy.
• There should be clear identification of the specific target group, their needs and how actions will address those needs at national regional or local level, as appropriate.
• Clear exit strategies that fully consider the role of the third sector and private sector, build social resilience and tackle poverty within communities, promote equality, and achieve legacy effects.
35
2.A.6.3 Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)
2.A.6.4 Planned use of major projects (where appropriate)
2.A.6.5 Output indicators by investment priority and, where appropriate by category of region
Investment priority
Investment priority
8i - Access to employment for job seekers and inactive people, including the long term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility
8i - Access to employment for job seekers and inactive people, including the long term unemployed and people far from the labour market, also through local employment initiatives and support for labour mobility
Planned use of financial instruments N/A
Planned use of major projects N/A
36
Tab
le 5
: Co
mm
on
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c o
utp
ut in
dic
ato
rs (b
y in
vest
men
t prio
rity,
bro
ken
dow
n by
cat
egor
y of
regi
on)
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty8i
- A
cces
s to
em
plo
ymen
t fo
r jo
b s
eeke
rs a
nd in
acti
ve p
eop
le, i
nclu
din
g t
he lo
ng t
erm
une
mp
loye
d a
nd p
eop
le fa
r fr
om
the
lab
our
mar
ket,
als
o
thro
ugh
loca
l em
plo
ymen
t ini
tiat
ives
and
sup
po
rt f
or
lab
our
mo
bili
ty
IDIn
dic
ato
rM
easu
rem
ent u
nit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
n Ta
rget
val
ue (2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aFr
eque
ncy
of
rep
ort
ing
Tota
l
CO
01un
empl
oyed
, inc
ludi
ng lo
ng-
term
une
mpl
oyed
Num
ber
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
28,0
00M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers.
Ann
ual
CO
03in
activ
eN
umbe
rE
SF
Tran
sitio
n12
,000
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s.A
nnua
l
37
2.A.4 Investment priority
2.A.5 Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results
ID of the investment priority
ID of the specific objective
Title of the investment priority
Title of the specific objective
Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
8ii
2
Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (ESF), in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee
To reduce the number of 16-24 year olds who are not in employment education or training.
We will support a total of 25,000 participants through this investment priority over the life of the Programme, and would expect the following results:
- 3,000 (12%) participants in employment upon leaving
- 8,750 (35%) participants in education/training upon leaving
38
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty :
8ii -
Sus
tain
able
inte
gra
tio
n in
to t
he la
bo
ur m
arke
t o
f yo
ung
peo
ple
(ES
F), i
n p
arti
cula
r th
ose
no
t in
em
plo
ymen
t, e
duc
atio
n o
r tr
aini
ng, i
nclu
din
g y
oun
g p
eop
le a
t ri
sk o
f so
cial
ex
clus
ion
and
yo
ung
peo
ple
fro
m m
arg
inal
ised
co
mm
unit
ies,
incl
udin
g t
hro
ugh
the
imp
lem
enta
tio
n o
f th
e Yo
uth
Gua
rant
ee
IDIn
dic
ato
rC
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
ind
icat
or
Co
mm
on
out
put
in
dic
ato
r us
ed
as b
asis
fo
r ta
rget
set
ting
Bas
elin
e Va
lue
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
bas
elin
e an
d
targ
et
Bas
elin
e ye
arTa
rget
Val
ue
(202
3)S
our
ce o
f d
ata
Freq
uenc
y o
f re
po
rtin
g
Tota
lTo
tal
PS
R1
Par
ticip
ants
in
educ
atio
n/tr
aini
ng o
n le
avin
g ag
ed 1
6-24
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
pa
rtic
ipan
ts34
%R
atio
(%)
2014
8,75
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs
Ann
ual
PS
R2
Par
ticip
ants
in
empl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf-em
ploy
men
t, up
on le
avin
g ag
ed
16-2
4
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
pa
rtic
ipan
ts34
%R
atio
(%)
2014
3,00
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs.
Ann
ual
Tab
le 4
: Co
mm
on
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs fo
r w
hich
a t
arg
et v
alue
has
bee
n se
t an
d p
rog
ram
me-
spec
ific
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs c
orr
esp
ond
ing
to
the
spec
ific
ob
ject
ive
(by
inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty a
nd c
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion)
39
Support provided under this investment priority will target young people who may not yet be ready to avail of mainstream provision. Meeting the very specific needs of young people aged 16-24 who are not in education, employment or training (NEET) is a priority for the Northern Ireland Executive. These activities will address the twin objectives of increasing employability and social inclusion as advocated by the European Commission in the UK country-specific Recommendations and are in line with the objectives of Europe 2020 Flagship Initiatives, ‘Youth on the Move’, ‘An Agenda for New Skills and Jobs’, and the ’European Platform Against Poverty’.
Example of Actions to be supported under Investment Priority 8(ii).
Specific actions in support of this investment priority may include:-
• Detailed assessment of needs taking into account personal barriers to employment, family and social circumstances, social problems, reasons for disengaging from education/training • Preparation of an individual action plan to provide participant with support, training advice, work placement or employment • Flexible menu of provision including: personal and social development, employability skills within a vocational context, specific tailored training, work sampling • Help, advice and guidance with job-search
• Personal advice and mentoring where appropriate, to assist clients to recognise and address their personal barriers to entering education/training or employment. • Pre-vocational and access training, community based activities such as volunteering, environmental activities • Acquisition of soft skills such as improved confidence and motivation • Acquisition of workskills and workplace skills such as team-working • Vocational training and qualifications for employability • Employer liaison to identify suitable work placements/job opportunities
Investment priority
8ii - Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (ESF), in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee
2.A.6 Action to be supported under the investment priority
2. A.6.1 Description of the type and examples of actions to be supported and their expected contribution to the specific objectives including, where appropriate, the identification of main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries
40
2.A.6.2 Guiding principles for selection of operations
2.A.6.3 Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)
2.A.6.4 Planned use of major projects
Investment priority
Investment priority
Investment priority
8ii - Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (ESF), in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee
8ii - Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (ESF), in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee
8ii - Sustainable integration into the labour market of young people (ESF), in particular those not in employment, education or training, including young people at risk of social exclusion and young people from marginalised communities, including through the implementation of the Youth Guarantee
Guiding principles for Investment Priority 8(ii) are as above for Investment priority 8(i) (See page 34)
Planned use of financial instruments N/A
Planned use of major projects N/A
41
Tab
le 5
: Co
mm
on
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c o
utp
ut in
dic
ato
rs (b
y in
vest
men
t prio
rity,
bro
ken
dow
n by
cat
egor
y of
regi
on)
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty8i
i -
Sus
tain
able
int
egra
tio
n in
to t
he l
abo
ur m
arke
t o
f yo
ung
peo
ple
(E
SF)
, in
par
ticu
lar
tho
se n
ot
in e
mp
loym
ent,
ed
ucat
ion
or
trai
ning
, in
clud
ing
yo
ung
peo
ple
at
risk
of
soci
al e
xclu
sio
n an
d y
oun
g p
eop
le fr
om
mar
gin
alis
ed c
om
mun
itie
s, in
clud
ing
thro
ugh
the
imp
lem
enta
tio
n o
f th
e Yo
uth
Gua
rant
ee
IDIn
dic
ato
rM
easu
rem
ent u
nit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
n Ta
rget
val
ue (2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aFr
eque
ncy
of
rep
ort
ing
Tota
l
PS
O01
Par
ticip
ants
not
in e
duca
tion,
tr
aini
ng o
r em
ploy
men
t age
d 16
-24
Num
ber
of p
artic
ipan
tsE
SF
Tran
sitio
n25
,000
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s.
Ann
ual
42
2.A.7 Social innovation, transnational cooperation and contribution to thematic objectives 1-7
Priority axis
SOCIAL INNOVATION
1 - Access to Employment
Social innovation aims to develop the capabilities of individuals enabling them to meet their needs over the longer term. The benefits of adopting a social innovation approach will be promoted and encouraged by the Managing Authority. At the application stage, applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their project will apply innovative approaches to engaging with those most at risk of disadvantage who are furthest from the labour market or who experience multiple barriers to accessing employment. This may involve:
• exploring alternative delivery models• targeting specific groups, with a view to creating new and better ways
of tackling social challenges.• developing sustainable exit strategies through testing of new delivery
models.
This evidence-based approach is aligned to the Delivering Social Change framework which is rolling out the use of outcomes based accountability in developing and evaluating new policies and programmes.
Opportunities for social innovation may develop as projects progress. Actions will be subject to monitoring and evaluation by the ESF Managing Authority with lessons learnt being disseminated both within projects and across Northern Ireland.
TRANSNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
The benefits of transnational working will be promoted by the Managing Authority in order to encourage those who wish to participate. The advantages of participation were highlighted in a review commissioned by the Managing Authority and undertaken by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) In October 2010. The review highlighted potential barriers to projects engaging in transnational working and amongst these were:
43
2.A.7 Social innovation, transnational cooperation and contribution to thematic objectives 1-7
Priority axis
1 - Access to Employment
• lack of awareness of what transitional working actually involved;• the issue of identification of potential partners; and• how the activity is funded within the programme.
Taking in to consideration the key issues identified in the review, the Managing Authority will institute the following affirmative actions in respect of the2014 - 2020 programming period;
• awareness raising activities led by projects with expertise and experience in transnational working;
• the provision of a tool for the identification of potential partners with appropriate resources and support in place;
• transnational working may be financed from Technical Assistance, where appropriate.
Actions around transnational working will be targeted towards addressing specific needs within the programme area while maximising the added value that can be delivered.
Focus will be placed on actions which offer significant opportunity to develop common solutions to common and emerging issues; to strengthen capacities to innovate, modernise and adapt to new socio-economic challenges; and to promote and share information and good practice.
In the 2007 – 2013 Programme the ESF Managing Authority in Northern Ireland led on the Learning Network on Empowerment and Inclusion and participated in three other networks.
44
2.A.7 Social innovation, transnational cooperation and contribution to thematic objectives 1-7
Priority axis
1 - Access to Employment
CONTRIBUTION OF ESF TO THEMATIC OBJECTIVES 1-7
ESF investments aim to support the development of a modern knowledge based economy. Investment under thematic objective 8, will contribute in a general sense to investment under thematic objectives 5 and 6 in that, prospective project providers will be expected to demonstrate at the application stage how their project will support the principles of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy - “Everyone’s Involved”. This in turn will support the shift to a low carbon, resource efficient economy.
Training and support activity under thematic objective 8 is based on the needs of the individual participant following assessment by the project provider and where skills gaps are identified, including basic ICT skills, these will be addressed. This will contribute broadly to the achievement of thematic objective 3 relating to ICT.
45
2. A
.8 P
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
Tab
le 6
: Per
form
ance
fram
ewo
rk o
f th
e p
rio
rity
axi
s
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
1 -
Acc
ess
to E
mp
loym
ent
IDIn
dic
ato
r ty
pe
Ind
icat
or
or
key
imp
lem
enta
tio
n st
epM
easu
rem
ent
unit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
n
Mile
sto
ne f
or
2018
Fina
l tar
get
(2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aE
xpla
nati
on
of
rele
vanc
e o
f in
dic
ato
r, w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate
Tota
lTo
tal
CO
01O
utpu
tun
empl
oyed
, inc
ludi
ng lo
ng-t
erm
un
empl
oyed
Num
ber
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
10,5
0028
,000
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
capt
ured
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
CO
03O
utpu
tin
activ
eN
umbe
rE
SF
Tran
sitio
n4,
500
12,0
00M
onito
ring
data
ca
ptur
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
F1Fi
nanc
ial
Exp
endi
ture
Eur
osE
SF
Tran
sitio
n62
,706
,033
€146
,314
,077
Pro
ject
Pro
vide
rsE
SF
and
Nat
iona
lC
ount
erpa
rt
PS
O01
Out
put
Par
ticip
ants
not
in e
duca
tion,
trai
ning
or
empl
oym
ent a
ged
16-2
4N
umbe
r of
pa
rtic
ipan
tsE
SF
Tran
sitio
n9,
350
25,0
00M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
46
Ad
dit
iona
l qua
litat
ive
info
rmat
ion
on
the
esta
blis
hmen
t o
f th
e p
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
2.A
.9 C
ateg
ori
es o
f in
terv
enti
on
Cat
egor
ies
of i
nter
vent
ion
corr
espo
ndin
g to
the
con
tent
of
the
prio
rity
axis
bas
ed o
n a
nom
encl
atur
e ad
opte
d by
the
Com
mis
sion
, an
d in
dica
tive
brea
kdow
n of
Uni
on s
uppo
rt.
Tab
les
7-11
: Cat
ego
ries
of
inte
rven
tio
n
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
1 -
Acc
ess
to E
mp
loym
ent
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
102.
Acc
ess
to e
mpl
oym
ent f
or jo
b-se
eker
s an
d in
activ
e pe
ople
, inc
ludi
ng th
e lo
ng-t
erm
une
mpl
oyed
and
peo
ple
far f
rom
the
labo
ur m
arke
t, al
so th
roug
h lo
cal e
mpl
oym
ent i
nitia
tives
and
sup
port
for
labo
ur m
obilit
y34
,139
,951
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
103.
Sus
tain
able
inte
grat
ion
into
the
labo
ur m
arke
t of y
oung
peo
ple,
in p
artic
ular
thos
e no
t in
empl
oym
ent,
educ
atio
n or
trai
ning
, inc
ludi
ng
youn
g pe
ople
at r
isk
of s
ocia
l exc
lusi
on a
nd y
oung
peo
ple
from
mar
gina
lised
com
mun
ities
, inc
ludi
ng th
roug
h th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e Yo
uth
Gua
rant
ee
24,3
85,6
80
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
1 -
Acc
ess
to E
mp
loym
ent
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
01. N
on-r
epay
able
gra
nt58
,525
,631
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
1 -
Acc
ess
to E
mp
loym
ent
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
58,5
25,6
31
Tab
le 7
: Dim
ensi
on
1 -
Inte
rven
tio
n fi
eld
Tab
le 8
: Dim
ensi
on
2 -
Form
of
fina
nce
Tab
le 9
: Dim
ensi
on
3 -
Terr
ito
ry t
ype
47
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
1 -
Acc
ess
to E
mp
loym
ent
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
58,5
25,6
31
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
1 -
Acc
ess
to E
mp
loym
ent
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
08. N
ot a
pplic
able
58,5
25,6
31
Tab
le 1
0: D
imen
sio
n 4
- Te
rrit
ori
al d
eliv
ery
mec
hani
sms
Tab
le 1
1: D
imen
sio
n 6
- E
SF
seco
ndar
y th
eme
(ES
F an
d Y
EI o
nly)
48
Priority axis
1 - Access to Employment
The Technical Assistance Priority will cover costs in relation to the preparatory, management, monitoring, evaluation, and information and control activities of the operational programme. This will include the programme’s publicity and communication strategy, support for cross-cutting themes and the development of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation systems.
Activities may include:
• programme preparation and management, including costs associated with monitoring and evaluation, control and audit. Activity around information and communication;
• activity around networking of Programme bodies and beneficiaries;• activity around recruitment and selection of projects, including
economic appraisals;• monitoring Committee and other management activities;• dissemination of project good practice.
Technical assistance may also be used to promote transnational working. The amount of ESF set aside for Technical Assistance in this Operational Programme is €3m giving a total expenditure €7.7m including match funding.
2.A.10 Summary of the planned use of technical assistance including, where necessary, actions to reinforce the administrative capacity of authorities involved in the management and control of the programmes and beneficiaries:
49
ID of the priority axis
ID of the investment priority
Title of the investment priority
Title of the priority axis
Fund
ESF Transition Public N/A
2
9i
Social Inclusion
Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability
Category of region
Calculation basis (total eligible expenditure or eligible public expenditure)
Category of region for outermost regions and northern sparsely populated regions (where applicable)
2.A.1 Priority axis 2
2.A.3 Fund, category of region and calculation basis for Union support
2.A.4 Investment priority
2.A.2 Justification for the establishment of a priority axis covering more than one category of region, thematic objective or fund (Not applicable)
50
9(i) (a)
9(i) (b)
(a) Enhance social inclusion by reducing unemployment in people with a disability
(b) Enhance social inclusion by reducing the number of NEET participants aged 16 and over within families receiving Community Family Support (CFSP)
It is expected 1,300 (10%) of participants with a disability will enter employment upon leaving and 1,950 (15%) will enter education/ training upon leaving.
It is expected that NEET participants aged 16 and over will be achieve the following results; -
- 50% to be engaged in job searching
- 20% to enter education/training
- 20% to gain a qualification
- 10% to be employed
2.A.5 Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results
ID of the specific objective
ID of the specific objective
Title of the specific objective
Title of the specific objective
Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
51
Tab
le 4
: Co
mm
on
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs fo
r w
hich
a t
arg
et v
alue
has
bee
n se
t an
d p
rog
ram
me-
spec
ific
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs
corr
esp
ond
ing
to t
he s
pec
ific
ob
ject
ive
(by
inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty a
nd c
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion)
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty :
9i -
Act
ive
incl
usio
n, in
clud
ing
wit
h a
view
to
pro
mo
ting
eq
ual o
pp
ort
unit
ies
and
act
ive
par
tici
pat
ion,
and
imp
rovi
ng e
mp
loya
bili
ty
IDIn
dic
ato
rC
ateg
ory
o
f re
gio
nM
easu
rem
ent
unit
fo
r in
dic
ato
r
Co
mm
on
out
put
in
dic
ato
r us
ed a
s b
asis
fo
r ta
rget
se
ttin
g
Bas
elin
e va
lue
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
bas
elin
e an
d
targ
et
Bas
elin
e ye
arTa
rget
va
lue
(202
3)
So
urce
of
dat
aFr
eque
ncy
of
rep
ort
ing
Tota
lTo
tal
PS
R3
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
upo
n le
avin
gTr
ansi
tion
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts15
%R
atio
(%)
2014
1,95
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
Ann
ual
PS
R4
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, up
on le
avin
gTr
ansi
tion
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts10
%R
atio
(%)
2014
1,30
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
Ann
ual
PS
R5
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, si
x m
onth
s af
ter l
eavi
ngTr
ansi
tion
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts50
%R
atio
(%)
2014
650
Follo
w u
p su
rvey
Ann
ual
PS
R6
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
20%
Rat
io (%
)20
142,
520
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PS
R7
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in jo
b se
arch
ing
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
50%
Rat
io (%
)20
146,
300
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PS
R8
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in g
aini
ng a
qua
lifica
tion
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
20%
Rat
io (%
)20
142,
520
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PS
R9
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, up
on le
avin
g
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
10%
Rat
io (%
)20
141,
200
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
52
Tab
le 4
: Co
mm
on
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs fo
r w
hich
a t
arg
et v
alue
has
bee
n se
t an
d p
rog
ram
me-
spec
ific
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs
corr
esp
ond
ing
to t
he s
pec
ific
ob
ject
ive
(by
inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty a
nd c
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion)
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty :
9i -
Act
ive
incl
usio
n, in
clud
ing
wit
h a
view
to
pro
mo
ting
eq
ual o
pp
ort
unit
ies
and
act
ive
par
tici
pat
ion,
and
imp
rovi
ng e
mp
loya
bili
ty
IDIn
dic
ato
rC
ateg
ory
o
f re
gio
nM
easu
rem
ent
unit
fo
r in
dic
ato
r
Co
mm
on
out
put
in
dic
ato
r us
ed a
s b
asis
fo
r ta
rget
se
ttin
g
Bas
elin
e va
lue
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
bas
elin
e an
d
targ
et
Bas
elin
e ye
arTa
rget
va
lue
(202
3)
So
urce
of
dat
aFr
eque
ncy
of
rep
ort
ing
Tota
lTo
tal
PS
R3
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
upo
n le
avin
gTr
ansi
tion
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts15
%R
atio
(%)
2014
1,95
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
Ann
ual
PS
R4
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, up
on le
avin
gTr
ansi
tion
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts10
%R
atio
(%)
2014
1,30
0M
onito
ring
data
co
llect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
Ann
ual
PS
R5
Par
ticip
ants
with
a d
isab
ility
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, si
x m
onth
s af
ter l
eavi
ngTr
ansi
tion
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts50
%R
atio
(%)
2014
650
Follo
w u
p su
rvey
Ann
ual
PS
R6
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
20%
Rat
io (%
)20
142,
520
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PS
R7
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in jo
b se
arch
ing
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
50%
Rat
io (%
)20
146,
300
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PS
R8
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in g
aini
ng a
qua
lifica
tion
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
20%
Rat
io (%
)20
142,
520
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PS
R9
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
eng
aged
in e
mpl
oym
ent,
incl
udin
g se
lf em
ploy
men
t, up
on le
avin
g
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
10%
Rat
io (%
)20
141,
200
Mon
itorin
g da
ta
colle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
2.A.6 Action to be supported under the investment priority
2.A.6.1 Description of the type and examples of actions to be supported and their expected contribution to the specific objectives including, where appropriate, the identification of main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries
Investment priority 9i - Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability
Investment Priority 9(i) (a) People with a disability
Specific objective (a) within this investment priority support will be offered to people with a disability, through specialist, tailored training and employment support projects where the specific needs of the individual will be addressed. Specific actions may include:
• Provision of opportunities to gain vocational qualifications – classroom and work placed assessments
• Provision of opportunities to improve employability skills – classroom and work placed activity
• Progression into mainstream education or employment programmes, such as Further Education, Steps2Success, Workable, Access to Work
• Support to attain paid employment- Assistance with development of skills to find work.• Preparation of an individual action plan, to provide participant with support, training
advice, work placement or employment
Investment Priority 9(i) (b) Community Family Support
Specific Objective (b)• For participants on the Community Family Support programme,
The following activities may be undertaken:• Engagement with parents of children and young people to promote early intervention,
to identify solutions to address specific needs.• Support to tackle a range of issues to improve parenting skills.• Assistance with development of skills to find work.• One to one employment advice and mentoring• Support with job search, CV writing, interview techniques and presentation skills.• Engagement in a wide range of activities such as stress management, confidence
building, motivational and life-coaching classes.• The CFSP providers work closely and in partnership with other stakeholders to ensure
families receive the support they need including help from specialist organisations if appropriate. Activities supported will directly assist government managed programmes and will be selected in line with procurement procedures. Participation on this programme will be by referral from the 5 Health Trusts. Detailed assessment of needs will be undertaken taking into account personal barriers to employment, family and social circumstances, work based skills, social problems.
53
Investment priority
Investment priority
Investment priority
9i - Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability
9i - Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability
9i - Active inclusion, including with a view to promoting equal opportunities and active participation, and improving employability
Investment Priority 9(i)
In addition to the principles outlined earlier for investment priorities 8(i) and 8(ii) (see page 34) recruitment of families to the CFSP programme will be sought from a range of sources including the local network of Family Support Hubs, the relevant Health and Social Care Trusts and other family support agencies / organisations in the voluntary and community sectors. Families can also self refer from within their local communities.
Planned use of financial instruments N/A
Planned use of financial instruments N/A
2. A.6.2 Guiding principles for selection of operations
2. A.6.3 Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)
2. A.6.4 Planned use of major projects (where appropriate)
54
Tab
le 5
: Co
mm
on
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c o
utp
ut in
dic
ato
rs (b
y in
vest
men
t prio
rity,
bro
ken
dow
n by
cat
egor
y of
regi
on)
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty9i
- A
ctiv
e in
clus
ion,
incl
udin
g w
ith
a vi
ew t
o p
rom
oti
ng e
qua
l op
po
rtun
itie
s an
d a
ctiv
e p
arti
cip
atio
n, a
nd im
pro
ving
em
plo
yab
ility
IDIn
dic
ato
rM
easu
rem
ent u
nit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nTa
rget
val
ue (2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aFr
eque
ncy
of
rep
ort
ing
Tota
l
CO
16P
artic
ipan
ts w
ith d
isab
ilitie
sN
umbe
rE
SF
Tran
sitio
n13
,000
Mon
itorin
g da
ta c
olle
cted
by
proj
ect
prov
ider
s.A
nnua
l
PS
O02
Targ
eted
fam
ilies
Num
ber o
f fam
ilies
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
4,20
0M
onito
ring
data
col
lect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers.
Ann
ual
PS
O03
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt
(CFS
P)
Num
ber o
f par
ticip
ants
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
12,6
00M
onito
ring
data
col
lect
ed b
y pr
ovid
ers
Ann
ual
2. A
.6.5
Ou
tpu
t in
dic
ator
s b
y in
vest
men
t pri
orit
y an
d, w
her
e ap
pro
pri
ate
by
cate
gor
y of
reg
ion
55
2.A.7 Social innovation, transnational cooperation and contribution to thematic objectives 1-7
Priority axis 2 - Social Inclusion
SOCIAL INNOVATIONSocial innovation aims to develop the capabilities of individuals enabling them to meet their needs over the longer term. The benefits of adopting a social innovation approach will be promoted and encouraged by the Managing Authority. At the application stage, applicants will be expected to demonstrate how their Project will apply innovative approaches to engaging with those most at risk of disadvantage who are furthest from the labour market or who experience multiple barriers to accessing employment. This may involve:
• exploring alternative delivery models;• targeting specific groups, with a view to creating new and better ways of tackling
social challenges;• developing sustainable exit strategies through testing of new delivery models.
This evidence-based approach is aligned to the Delivering Social Change framework which is rolling out the use of outcomes based accountability in developing and evaluating new policies and programmes.
Opportunities for social innovation may develop as projects progress. Actions will be subject to monitoring and evaluation by the ESF Managing Authority with lessons learnt being disseminated both within projects and across Northern Ireland.
TRANSNATIONAL CO-OPERATIONThe benefits of transnational working will be promoted by the Managing Authority in order to encourage those who wish to participate. The advantages of participation were highlighted in a review commissioned by the Managing Authority and undertaken by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) In October 2010. The review highlighted potential barriers to projects engaging in transnational working and amongst these were:
• lack of awareness of what transitional working actually involved;• the issue of identification of potential partners; and• how the activity is funded within the programme.
Taking in to consideration the key issues identified in the review, the Managing Authority will institute the following affirmative actions in respect of the2014 - 2020 programming period;
56
2.A.7 Social innovation, transnational cooperation and contribution to thematic objectives 1-7
Priority axis 2 - Social Inclusion
• awareness raising activities led by projects with expertise and experience in transnational working;
• the provision of a tool for the identification of potential partners with appropriate resources and support in place;
• transnational working may be financed from Technical Assistance, where appropriate.
Actions around transnational working will be targeted towards addressing specific needs within the programme area while maximising the added value that can be delivered.
Focus will be placed on actions which offer significant opportunity to develop common solutions to common and emerging issues; to strengthen capacities to innovate, modernise and adapt to new socio-economic challenges; and to promote and share information and good practice.
In the 2007 to 2013 the ESF Managing Authority in Northern Ireland led on the Learning Network on Empowerment and Inclusion and participated in three others. These networks are currently operational and have yet to move to the position of undertaking any form of evaluation.
CONTRIBUTION OF ESF TO THEMATIC OBJECTIVES 1-7ESF investments aim to support the development of a modern knowledge based economy. Investment under thematic objective 9, will contribute in a general sense to investment under thematic objectives 5 and 6 in that, prospective project providers will be expected to demonstrate at the application stage how their project will suport the principles of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy - “Everyone’s Involved”. This in turn will support the shift to a low carbon, resource efficient economy.
Training and support activity under thematic objective 9 is based on the needs of the individual participant following assessment by the project provider and where skills gaps are identified, including basic ICT skills, these will be addressed. This will contribute to the achievement of thematic objective 3 relating to ICT.
57
2.A
.8 P
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
Tab
le 6
: Per
form
ance
fram
ewo
rk o
f th
e p
rio
rity
axi
s
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
2 -
So
cial
Incl
usio
n
IDIn
dic
ato
r ty
pe
Ind
icat
or
or
key
imp
lem
enta
tio
n st
epM
easu
rem
ent
unit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
n
Mile
sto
ne
for
2018
Fina
l tar
get
(2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aE
xpla
nati
on
of
rele
vanc
e o
f in
dic
ato
r, w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate
Tota
lTo
tal
CO
16O
utpu
tP
artic
ipan
ts w
ith d
isab
ilitie
sN
umbe
r of
pa
rtic
ipan
tsE
SF
Tran
sitio
n4,
850
13,0
00M
onito
ring
data
cap
ture
d by
pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs
F2Fi
nanc
ial
Exp
endi
ture
Eur
osE
SF
Tran
sitio
n66
,006
,350
€154
,014
,817
Pro
ject
Pro
vide
rsE
SF
and
Nat
iona
lC
ount
erpa
rt
PS
O02
Out
put
Targ
eted
fam
ilies
Num
ber
of
fam
ilies
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
1,55
04,
200
Mon
itorin
g da
ta c
olle
cted
by
proj
ect p
rovi
ders
Fam
ilies
on C
omm
unty
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt
Pro
gram
me
PS
O03
Out
put
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d 16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily S
uppo
rt
(CFS
P)
Num
ber
of
part
icip
ants
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
4,70
012
,600
Mon
itorin
g da
ta c
olle
cted
by
proj
ect p
rovi
ders
Ref
ers
to p
artic
ipan
ts o
n C
omm
unity
Fa
mily
Sup
port
Pro
gram
me
(CFS
P)
58
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
2 -
So
cial
Incl
usio
n
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
109.
Act
ive
incl
usio
n, in
clud
ing
with
a v
iew
to p
rom
otin
g eq
ual o
ppor
tuni
ties
and
activ
e pa
rtic
ipat
ion,
and
impr
ovin
g em
ploy
abilit
y61
,605
,927
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
2 -
So
cial
Incl
usio
n
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
01. N
on-r
epay
able
gra
nt61
,605
,927
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
2 -
So
cial
Incl
usio
n
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
61,6
05,9
27
Tab
le 7
: Dim
ensi
on
1 -
Inte
rven
tio
n fi
eld
Tab
le 8
: Dim
ensi
on
2 -
Form
of
fina
nce
Tab
le 9
: Dim
ensi
on
3 -
Terr
ito
ry t
ype
Ad
dit
iona
l qua
litat
ive
info
rmat
ion
on
the
esta
blis
hmen
t o
f th
e p
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
2. A
.9 C
ateg
ori
es o
f in
terv
enti
on
Cat
egor
ies
of i
nter
vent
ion
corr
espo
ndin
g to
the
con
tent
of
the
prio
rity
axis
bas
ed o
n a
nom
encl
atur
e ad
opte
d by
the
Com
mis
sion
, an
d in
dica
tive
brea
kdow
n of
Uni
on s
uppo
rt.
Tab
les
7-11
: Cat
ego
ries
of
inte
rven
tio
n
59
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
2 -
So
cial
Incl
usio
n
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
61,6
05,9
27
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
2 -
So
cial
Incl
usio
n
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
08. N
ot a
pplic
able
61,6
05,9
27
Tab
le 1
0: D
imen
sio
n 4
- Te
rrit
ori
al d
eliv
ery
mec
hani
sms
Tab
le 1
1: D
imen
sio
n 6
- E
SF
seco
ndar
y th
eme
(ES
F an
d Y
EI o
nly)
60
2.A.10 Summary of the planned use of technical assistance including, where necessary, actions to reinforce the administrative capacity of authorities involved in the management and control of the programmes and beneficiaries (where appropriate) (by priority axis)
Priority axis: 2 - Social Inclusion
The Technical Assistance Priority will cover costs in relation to the preparatory, management, monitoring, evaluation, and information and control activities of the operational programme. This will include the programme’s publicity and communication strategy, support for cross-cutting themes and the development of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation systems.
Activities may include:
• programme preparation and management, including costs associated with monitoring and evaluation, control and audit. Activity around information and communication;
• activity around networking of Programme bodies and beneficiaries;• activity around recruitment and selection of projects, including economic
appraisals;• monitoring Committee and other management activities;• dissemination of project good practice.
Technical assistance may also be used to promote transnational working. The amount of ESF set aside for Technical Assistance in this Operational Programme is €3m giving a total expenditure €7.7m including match funding.
61
2.A.2 Justification for the establishment of a priority axis covering more than one category of region, thematic objective or fund (Not Applicable)
Fund
ESF Transition Public
Category of region
Calculation basis (total eligible expenditure or eligible public expenditure)
N/A
Category of region for outermost regions and northern sparsely populated regions (where applicable)
2.A.3 Fund, category of region and calculation basis for Union support
ID of the priority axis
Title of the priority axis
3
Skills for Growth
2.A.1 Priority axis 3
62
ID of the investment priority
Title of the investment priority
10 (iv)
Improving the labour market relevance of education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to work, and strengthening vocational education and training systems and their quality, including through mechanisms for skills anticipation, adaptation of curricula and the establishment and development of work based learning systems, including dual learning systems and apprenticeship schemes
2.A.4 Investment priority
10 (iv)
To increase the proportion of people in employment skilled at levels 2 and 3-8 through apprenticeships and youth training
It is expected that 56%21 of participants will achieve targeted Level 2 qualifications and
53%22 of participants will achieve targeted Level 3 qualifications or above.
(It should be noted that participants gaining a Level 2 qualification can further obtain a Level 3 qualification or above)
2.A.5 Specific objectives corresponding to the investment priority and expected results
ID of the specific objective
Title of the specific objective
Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
21 In addition to participants embarking on a Level 2 or Level 3 framework, there is potential for registration for Level 2/3. In this scenario, apprentices are pursuing an NVQ Level 2 en route to the achievement of targeted Level 3 framework qualifications. There is therefore some overlap in the figures
22 These figures are based on provision in the 2007-13 ESF programme and are likely to change following the outcome of the Review of Apprenticeship and Youth Training currently underway in Northern Ireland. At this time it is not possible to predict the final outcome of the review or the impact that it is likely to have on the numbers undertaking apprenticeship and youth training. Revised information will be made available when the new apprenticeship and training model is put in place.
63
Tab
le 4
: Co
mm
on
resu
lt in
dic
ato
rs f
or
whi
ch a
tar
get
val
ue h
as b
een
set
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c re
sult
ind
icat
ors
co
rres
po
ndin
g t
o
the
spec
ific
ob
ject
ive
(by
inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty a
nd c
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion)
Inve
stm
ent
prio
rity
: 10
iv -
Im
prov
ing
the
labo
ur m
arke
t re
leva
nce
of e
duca
tion
and
tra
inin
g sy
stem
s, f
acili
tati
ng t
he t
rans
itio
n fr
om e
duca
tion
to
wor
k, a
nd s
tren
gthe
ning
voc
atio
nal e
duca
tion
and
tr
aini
ng s
yste
ms
and
thei
r qu
alit
y, in
clud
ing
thro
ugh
mec
hani
sms
for
skill
s an
tici
pati
on, a
dapt
atio
n of
cur
ricu
la a
nd t
he e
stab
lishm
ent
and
deve
lopm
ent
of w
ork
base
d le
arni
ng s
yste
ms,
incl
udin
g du
al
lear
ning
sys
tem
s an
d ap
pren
tice
ship
sch
emes
IDIn
dic
ato
rC
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
ind
icat
or
Co
mm
on
out
put
in
dic
ato
r us
ed
as b
asis
fo
r ta
rget
set
ting
Bas
elin
e va
lue
Mea
sure
men
t un
it f
or
bas
elin
e an
d t
arg
et
Bas
elin
e ye
arTa
rget
val
ue (2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aFr
eque
ncy
of
rep
ort
ing
Tota
lTo
tal
PSR
10Pa
rtic
ipan
ts to
ac
hiev
e ta
rget
Lev
el
2 qu
alifi
catio
ns
Tran
sitio
npe
rcen
tage
of
part
icip
ants
inac
tive,
not
in
educ
atio
n or
tr
aini
ng
6.8%
Rat
io (%
)20
1456
%M
onito
ring
data
col
lect
ed
by p
roje
ct
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
PSR
11Pa
rtic
ipan
ts
to a
chie
ve
targ
eted
Lev
el 3
qu
alifi
catio
ns o
r ab
ove
Tran
sitio
nN
umbe
rP
erce
ntag
e of
pa
rtic
ipan
ts18
.2%
Rat
io (%
)20
1453
%M
onito
ring
data
col
lect
ed
by p
roje
ct
prov
ider
s
Ann
ual
64
2. A.6 Action to be supported under the investment priority (by investment priority)
2.A.6.1 Description of the type and examples of actions to be supported and their expected contribution to the specific objectives including, where appropriate, the identification of main target groups, specific territories targeted and types of beneficiaries
Investment priority 10 iv - Improving the labour market relevance of education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to work, and strengthening vocational education and training systems and their quality, including through mechanisms for skills anticipation, adaptation of curricula and the establishment and development of work based learning systems, including dual learning systems and apprenticeship schemes
Example of current actions to be supported under Investment Priority 10 (iv)
• Apprenticeship training (off-the-job) enabling learners, who have attained the minimum school leaving age and are in paid employment, to gain an industry recognised apprenticeship qualification.
• Development of a personal training plan for each participant.• Training leading to level 2 qualifications.• Training leading to level 3 qualifications.• Training leading to level 3-8 qualifications for those commencing training from the
introduction of the new apprenticeship model post 2016.
Increase in the level of apprenticeships• An apprenticeship will be available in professional and technical occupations
commencing from level 3 up to level 8. A new Strategic Advisory Forum comprising of employers, government, trade unions and providers will be established to provide oversight of apprenticeship provision.Sectoral Partnerships comprising of employers and off the job training providers will advise on the content of apprenticeships and the qualifications developed within their sectors. Higher Level apprenticeships are currently being piloted within sectors including ICT, Engineering and Finance and Accounting.
Support for Employers to offer apprenticeships• A project is being taken forward to pilot a funding model which will include
the testing of incentives and support for small and micro businesses and the development of a financial model prior to implementation.
65
Ensuring that skills development is in line with future economy skills needs• A Northern Ireland Skills Barometer is in development which will support better
matching of apprenticeship supply and demand, it will provide a clear indication of current and emerging and long term skills shortages. The Sectoral Partnerships will also advise on the skills needs within their sectors.
Assessment of apprenticeships• A quality assurance model is being developed to ensure high quality
apprenticeship provision through inspection, rigorous assessment, established criteria for teaching and for continuous professional development and on-going performance monitoring.
Recognition of qualifications by the labour market• A single award/qualification will be developed for each occupation at each level in
conjunction with the strategic advisory forum and sectoral partnerships.
The attached links below give a full list of the level 2 and 3 frameworks available within the current Apprenticeship Programme. Within these frameworks there is scope to undertake training provision in the areas of the green ecomony. As this a prevalant sector, green job creation is encouraged and promoted with employers. Furthermore, the Northern Ireland Strategy on Apprenticeships addresses the fact that training is led by supply and demand at sector level and can accommodate the skills requirement in the green and renewable energy sector. With regard to the ICT sector, an ICT Skills Working group convened by the Minister for Employment and Learning in January 2012 brought together business leaders, employer representatives, representatives from local colleges and universities and government officials to consider how the current and future skills needs of the ICT sector can be addressed. The group, which was Chaired by the Minister for Employment and Learning, produced an ICT Skills Action Plan, setting out the skills challenges facing the sector and a number of short, medium and long term actions required to address those challenges. One of the actions set out in the ICT Skills Action Plan, was the development of a Public/Private ICT Apprenticeship Scheme. As a result, the Department, along with the Department of Finance and Personnel and local private sector ICT employers, developed a model to recruit and train individuals for the ICT sector.This model has been implemented and will ensure that the particular needs of the ICT/digital sector sector will be met.
http://www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/education-and-learning/14-19/starter-skills-16-18/apprenticeships/apprenticeship- qualifications.htm
http://www.delni.gov.uk/securing-our-success-the-ni-strategy-on-apprenticeships.pdf
66
The current Apprenticeship model is under review with the new model due to be implemented by September 2016. Within this document there will be continued alignment with EU policy recommendations in the area of Vocational Education and Training.
Activities supported will directly assist Government managed programmes and will be selected through a competition for Government projects only, in line with procurement procedures.
67
Investment priority
Investment priority
10iv - Improving the labour market relevance of education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to work, and strengthening vocational education and training systems and their quality, including through mechanisms for skills anticipation, adaptation of curricula and the establishment and development of work based learning systems, including dual learning systems and apprenticeship schemes
10iv - Improving the labour market relevance of education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to work, and strengthening vocational education and training systems and their quality, including through mechanisms for skills anticipation, adaptation of curricula and the establishment and development of work based learning systems, including dual learning systems and apprenticeship schemes
Planned use of financial instruments N/A
Planned use of financial instruments N/A
2.A.6.3 Planned use of financial instruments (where appropriate)
2.A.6.4 Planned use of major projects (where appropriate)
Investment priority
10iv - Improving the labour market relevance of education and training systems, facilitating the transition from education to work, and strengthening vocational education and training systems and their quality, including through mechanisms for skills anticipation, adaptation of curricula and the establishment and development of work based learning systems, including dual learning systems and apprenticeship schemes
2.A.6.2 Guiding principles for selection of operations
Investment Priority 10(iv) - In addition to the guiding principles outlined earlier, participants undertaking apprenticeship training must be aged 16 or over and be in employment.
68
2. A
.6.5
Ou
tpu
t in
dic
ator
s b
y in
vest
men
t pri
orit
y an
d, w
her
e ap
pro
pri
ate
by
cate
gor
y of
reg
ion
Tab
le 5
: Co
mm
on
and
pro
gra
mm
e-sp
ecifi
c o
utp
ut in
dic
ato
rs
Inve
stm
ent
pri
ori
ty10
iv -
Im
pro
ving
the
lab
our
mar
ket
rele
vanc
e o
f ed
ucat
ion
and
tra
inin
g s
yste
ms,
fac
ilita
ting
the
tra
nsit
ion
fro
m e
duc
atio
n to
wo
rk, a
nd
stre
ngth
enin
g v
oca
tio
nal e
duc
atio
n an
d t
rain
ing
sys
tem
s an
d t
heir
qua
lity,
inc
lud
ing
thr
oug
h m
echa
nism
s fo
r sk
ills
anti
cip
atio
n, a
dap
tati
on
of
curr
icul
a an
d t
he e
stab
lishm
ent
and
dev
elo
pm
ent
of
wo
rk b
ased
lea
rnin
g s
yste
ms,
incl
udin
g d
ual l
earn
ing
sys
tem
s an
d a
pp
rent
ices
hip
sc
hem
es
IDIn
dic
ato
rM
easu
rem
ent u
nit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
n Ta
rget
val
ue
(202
3)S
our
ce o
f d
ata
Freq
uenc
y o
f re
po
rtin
g
Tota
l
PS
O04
Em
ploy
ed p
artic
ipan
ts a
ged
16 a
nd o
ver
wor
king
tow
ards
an
appr
entic
eshi
pN
umbe
r of p
artic
ipan
tsE
SF
Tran
sitio
n42
,000
Mon
itorin
g da
ta c
olle
cted
by
pro
ject
pro
vide
rsA
nnua
l
69
2.A.7 Social innovation, transnational cooperation and contribution to thematic objectives 1-7
Priority axis 3 - Skills for Growth
SOCIAL INNOVATIONSocial innovation aims to develop the capabilities of individuals enabling them to meet their needs over the longer term and also the needs of employers. Innovative approaches will be reflected in the new apprenticeships model to be implemented in 2016.
Transnational co-operationWith regard to the establishment of the new apprenticeship model in Northern Ireland, DEL will put in place measures to fully utilise opportunities for international placement and exchanges for apprentices, by establishing links with partner countries across Europe, and beyond, through the use of EU programmes, such as Erasmus+. Consideration will also be given to incentives for participating employers.
CONTRIBUTION OF ESF TO THEMATIC OBJECTIVES 1-7ESF investments aim to support the development of a modern knowledge based economy. Investment under thematic objective 10 will complement and combine with investment under thematic objectives 1and 3 in order to achieve this aim.
Thematic Objective 10 places particular emphasis on skills development in an economic context and on improving the skills levels of the Northern Ireland workforce as a key component in broader efforts to increase economic competitiveness.
This will complement thematic objective 1 in the European Regional Development Fund Programme – strengthening research, technological development and innovation and also Thematic objective 3 – enhancing the competitiveness of SMEs. In developing the ESF programme, DEL has worked closely with DETI, the managing authority for the ERDF programme to ensure maximum impact from the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme. Complementarity exists between these two programmes in that both are concerned with supporting the aims of the NI Economic Strategy. DEL for example has identified a number of priority sectors in the local economy where its skills and training provision will be focused in keeping with the aims of the Economic Strategy. These align closely with the Smart Specialisation key sectors on which the ERDF Programme will focus. The main companies that fall within the five identified Smart Specialisation key sectors also fall within DEL’s identified priority economic sectors and DEL will target funding on these sectors through
70
Priority axis 3 - Skills for Growth
apprenticeship training. DEL will work with DETI to meet the future skills needs of the emerging sectors – the creative industries and renewable energy. In this way the ESF and ERDF programmes complement one another in promoting sectors that are of major importance in rebuilding and rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy.
One of the actions set out in the Department for Employment and learning’s ICT Skills Action Plan, was the development of a Public/Private ICT Apprenticeship Scheme. As a result, the Department, along with the Department of Finance and Personnel and local private sector ICT employers, developed a model to recruit and train individuals for the ICT sector. This model has been implemented and will ensure that the particular rneeds of the ICT/digital sector will be met. this will also contribute to Thematic objectve 3.
71
2.A
.8 P
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
Tab
le 6
: Per
form
ance
fram
ewo
rk o
f th
e p
rio
rity
axi
s
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
3 -
Ski
lls f
or
Gro
wth
IDIn
dic
ato
r ty
pe
Ind
icat
or
or
key
imp
lem
enta
tio
n st
epM
easu
rem
ent
unit
Fund
Cat
ego
ry
of
reg
ion
Mile
sto
ne f
or
2018
Fina
l tar
get
(2
023)
So
urce
of
dat
aE
xpla
nati
on
of
rele
vanc
e
of
ind
icat
or
Tota
lTo
tal
F3Fi
nanc
ial
Exp
endi
ture
Eur
osE
SF
Tran
sitio
n88
,008
,467
€205
,353
,090
Pro
ject
Pro
vide
rsE
SF
and
Nat
iona
lC
ount
erpa
rt
PS
O05
Out
put
Em
ploy
ed p
artic
ipan
ts a
ged
16
and
over
wor
king
tow
ards
an
appr
entic
eshi
p
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
tsE
SF
Tran
sitio
n15
,750
42,0
00M
onito
ring
data
col
lect
ed b
y pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs
72
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
th
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
118.
Impr
ovin
g th
e la
bour
mar
ket r
elev
ance
of e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
sys
tem
s, fa
cilit
atin
g th
e tr
ansi
tion
from
edu
catio
n to
wor
k, a
nd
stre
ngth
enin
g vo
catio
nal e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
sys
tem
s an
d th
eir q
ualit
y, in
clud
ing
thro
ugh
mec
hani
sms
for
skills
ant
icip
atio
n, a
dapt
atio
n of
cur
ricul
a an
d th
e es
tabl
ishm
ent a
nd d
evel
opm
ent o
f wor
k-ba
sed
lear
ning
sys
tem
s, in
clud
ing
dual
lear
ning
sys
tem
s an
d ap
pren
tices
hip
sche
mes
82,1
41,2
36.0
0
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
th
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
01. N
on-r
epay
able
gra
nt82
,141
,236
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
th
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
82,1
41,2
36
Tab
le 7
: Dim
ensi
on
1 -
Inte
rven
tio
n fi
eld
Tab
le 8
: Dim
ensi
on
2 -
Form
of
fina
nce
Tab
le 9
: Dim
ensi
on
3 -
Terr
ito
ry t
ype
Ad
dit
iona
l qua
litat
ive
info
rmat
ion
on
the
esta
blis
hmen
t o
f th
e p
erfo
rman
ce f
ram
ewo
rk
2. A
.9 C
ateg
ori
es o
f in
terv
enti
on
Cat
egor
ies
of in
terv
entio
n co
rres
pond
ing
to th
e co
nten
t of t
he p
riorit
y ax
is b
ased
on
a no
men
clat
ure
adop
ted
by th
e C
omm
issi
on, a
nd in
dica
tive
brea
kdow
n of
Uni
on s
uppo
rt.
Tab
les
7-11
: Cat
ego
ries
of
inte
rven
tio
n
73
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
th
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
82,1
41,2
36
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
th
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
amo
unt
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
08. N
ot a
pplic
able
82,1
41,2
36
Tab
le 1
0: D
imen
sio
n 4
- Te
rrit
ori
al d
eliv
ery
mec
hani
sms
Tab
le 1
1: D
imen
sio
n 6
- E
SF
seco
ndar
y th
eme
(ES
F an
d Y
EI o
nly)
74
2.A.10 Summary of the planned use of technical assistance including, where necessary, actions to reinforce the administrative capacity of authorities involved in the management and control of the programmes and beneficiaries:
Priority axis: 3 - Skills for Growth
The Technical Assistance Priority will cover costs in relation to the preparatory, management, monitoring, evaluation, and information and control activities of the operational programme. This will include the programme’s publicity and communication strategy, support for cross-cutting themes and the development of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation systems.
Activities may include:
• programme preparation and management, including costs associated with monitoring and evaluation, control and audit. Activity around information and communication;
• activity around networking of Programme bodies and beneficiaries;• activity around recruitment and selection of projects, including economic
appraisals;• monitoring Committee and other management activities;• dissemination of project good practice.
Technical assistance may also be used to promote transnational working. The amount of ESF set aside for Technical Assistance in this Operational Programme is €3m giving a total expenditure €7.7m including match funding.
75
2.B Description of the Priority Axis for Technical Assistance
2.B.1 Priority axis
2.B.4 Specific objectives and expected results
Fund Category of region Calculation basis (total eligible expenditure or eligible public expenditure)
Title of the priority axis
4
ID of the priority axis
ID
4
Specific objective Results that the Member States seek to achieve with Union support
The technical assistance budget will support the effective management and implementation of the Northern Ireland ESF programme structures and achievement of the Programme’s aim and objectives
The Technical Assistance Priority will cover costs in relation to the preparatory, management, monitoring, evaluation, quality assurance and information and control activities of the operational programme. This will include the programme’s publicity and communication strategy, support for cross- cutting themes and the development of the programme’s monitoring and evaluation systems.
To support the effective management and implementation of the Northern Ireland ESF programme structures and achievement of the Programme’s aim and objectives.
ESF ESF Public
2.B.2 Justification for establishing a priority axis covering more than one category of region
This is not applicable to Northern Ireland.
2.B.3 Fund and category of region
76
2. B.5 Result indicators
Result Indicators are not required for technical assistance as the EU support for technical assistance is below the threshold of @15m.
77
2. B.6 Actions to be supported and their expected contribution to the specific objectives
2. B.6.1 A description of actions to be supported and their expected contribution to the specific objectives
Priority axis 4 - The technical assistance budget will support the effective management and implementation of the Northern Ireland ESF programme structures and achievement of the programme’s aim and objectives.
Activities may include: • programme preparation and management, including costs associated with monitoring
and evaluation, control and audit;• organisation of a communication and information event for beneficiaries each year of
the programme;• activity around networking of Programme bodies and beneficiaries;• activity around recruitment and selection of projects, including economic appraisals;• monitoring Committee and other management activities;• dissemination of project good practice;• technical assistance may also be used to promote transnational working.
78
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
4 -
The
tec
hnic
al a
ssis
tanc
e b
udg
et w
ill s
upp
ort
the
eff
ecti
ve m
anag
emen
t an
d im
ple
men
tati
on
of
the
No
rthe
rn Ir
elan
d E
SF
pro
gra
mm
e st
ruct
ures
and
ach
ieve
men
t o
f th
e P
rog
ram
me’
s ai
m a
nd o
bje
ctiv
es.
IDIn
dic
ato
rM
easu
rem
ent
unit
Targ
et v
alue
(2
023)
(op
tio
nal)
So
urce
of
dat
a
Tota
l
PS
06N
umbe
r of P
roje
cts
supp
orte
dP
roje
cts
ES
F M
anag
ing
Aut
horit
y
PS
07N
+3
Eur
osD
atab
ase
PS
08A
nnua
l Err
or R
ate
%A
udit
Aut
horit
y
PS
09P
rogr
amm
e E
valu
atio
ns b
y E
xter
nal C
onsu
ltant
sE
valu
atio
nsE
SF
Man
agin
g A
utho
rity
PS
11M
ajor
Info
rmat
ion
Act
iviti
es R
eg (E
U N
o130
3/20
13 A
rt 1
55 a
ndA
nnex
XI r
efer
s)A
ctiv
ities
ES
F M
anag
ing
Aut
horit
y
PS
12N
umbe
r of T
rain
ing
Eve
nts
Eve
nts
ES
F M
anag
ing
Aut
horit
y
PS
13N
umbe
r of e
mpl
oyee
s (F
TE’s
) who
se s
alar
ies
are
co-fi
nanc
ed b
yTA
FTE
ES
F M
anag
ing
Aut
horit
y
PS
14E
valu
atio
n P
lan
Pla
n1
ES
F M
anag
ing
Aut
horit
y
PS
10C
omm
unic
atio
ns S
trat
egy
Str
ateg
y1
2. B
.6.2
Ou
tpu
t in
dic
ator
s ex
pec
ted
to
con
trib
ute
to
resu
lts
Tab
le 1
3: O
utp
ut In
dic
ato
rs
79
2.B
.7 C
ateg
ori
es o
f in
terv
enti
on
(by
prio
rity
axis
)
Cor
resp
ondi
ng c
ateg
orie
s of
inte
rven
tion
base
d on
a n
omen
clat
ure
adop
ted
by th
e C
omm
issi
on, a
nd a
n in
dica
tive
brea
kdow
n of
the
Uni
on s
uppo
rt.
Tab
les
14-1
6: C
ateg
ori
es o
f in
terv
enti
on
Pri
ori
ty
axis
4 -
The
tec
hnic
al a
ssis
tanc
e b
udg
et w
ill s
upp
ort
the
eff
ecti
ve m
anag
emen
t an
d im
ple
men
tati
on
of
the
No
rthe
rn Ir
elan
d E
SF
pro
gra
mm
e st
ruct
ures
and
ach
ieve
men
t of
the
Pro
gra
mm
e’s
aim
an
d o
bje
ctiv
es.
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
Am
oun
t
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
120.
Cap
acity
bui
ldin
g fo
r al
l sta
keho
lder
s de
liver
ing
educ
atio
n, li
felo
ng le
arni
ng, t
rain
ing
and
empl
oym
ent a
nd s
ocia
l pol
icie
s,
incl
udin
g th
roug
h se
ctor
al a
nd te
rrito
rial p
acts
to m
obilis
e fo
r re
form
at t
he n
atio
nal,
regi
onal
and
loca
l lev
els
0.00
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
121.
Pre
para
tion,
impl
emen
tatio
n, m
onito
ring
and
insp
ectio
n0.
00
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
122.
Eva
luat
ion
and
stud
ies
0.00
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
123.
Info
rmat
ion
and
com
mun
icat
ion
3,08
0,29
6
Tab
le 1
4: D
imen
sio
n 1
- In
terv
enti
on
fiel
d
80
Pri
ori
ty
axis
4 -
The
tec
hnic
al a
ssis
tanc
e b
udg
et w
ill s
upp
ort
the
eff
ecti
ve m
anag
emen
t an
d im
ple
men
tati
on
of
the
No
rthe
rn Ir
elan
d E
SF
pro
gra
mm
e st
ruct
ures
and
ach
ieve
men
t o
f th
e P
rog
ram
me’
s ai
m a
nd o
bje
ctiv
es.
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
Am
oun
t
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
01. N
on-r
epay
able
gra
nt3,
080,
296
Pri
ori
ty
axis
4 -
The
tec
hnic
al a
ssis
tanc
e b
udg
et w
ill s
upp
ort
the
eff
ecti
ve m
anag
emen
t an
d im
ple
men
tati
on
of
the
No
rthe
rn Ir
elan
d E
SF
pro
gra
mm
e st
ruct
ures
and
ach
ieve
men
t o
f th
e P
rog
ram
me’
s ai
m a
nd o
bje
ctiv
es.
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nC
od
e€
Am
oun
t
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
07. N
ot a
pplic
able
3,08
0,29
6
Tab
le 1
5: D
imen
sio
n 2
- Fo
rm o
f fi
nanc
e
Tab
le 1
6: D
imen
sio
n 3
– Te
rrit
ory
typ
e
82
3.1
Fina
ncia
l ap
pro
pri
atio
n fr
om
eac
h fu
nd a
nd a
mo
unts
fo
r p
erfo
rman
ce re
serv
e
Tab
le 1
7Fu
ndC
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion
2014
2015
2016
2017
2018
2019
2020
Tota
l
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
Mai
n
allo
cati
on
Per
form
ance
rese
rve
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
25,9
63,8
601,
657,
267
26,4
83,6
631,
690,
444
27,0
13,7
941,
724,
285
27,5
54,4
281,
758,
793
28,1
05,8
641,
793,
992
28,6
68,3
171,
829,
895
29,2
41,9
79.0
01,
866,
509
193,
031,
905
12,3
21,1
85
Tota
l25
,963
,860
1,65
7,26
726
,483
,663
1,69
0,44
427
,013
,794
1,72
4,28
527
,554
,428
1,75
8,79
328
,105
,864
1,79
3,99
228
,668
,317
1,82
9,89
529
,241
,979
.00
1,86
6,50
919
3,03
1,90
512
,321
,185
3.2
Tota
l fina
ncia
l ap
pro
pri
atio
n b
y fu
nd a
nd n
atio
nal c
o-fi
nanc
ing
(€)
Tab
le 1
8a: F
inan
cing
pla
n
Pri
ori
ty
axis
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f
reg
ion
Bas
is f
or
calc
ulat
ion
of
Uni
on
sup
po
rt
(To
tal e
ligib
le
cost
or
pub
lic
elig
ible
co
st)
Uni
on
sup
po
rt
(a)
Nat
iona
l
coun
terp
art
(b) =
(c) +
(d)
Ind
icat
ive
bre
akd
ow
n o
f
nati
ona
l co
unte
rpar
t
Tota
l fun
din
g
(e) =
(a) +
(b)
Co
-fina
ncin
g r
ate
(f)
= (a
) / (e
) (2)
EIB
cont
rib
utio
ns (g
)
Mai
n al
loca
tio
nP
erfo
rman
ce re
serv
eP
erfo
rman
ce
rese
rve
amo
unt
as
pro
po
rtio
n o
f
tota
l Uni
on
sup
po
rtN
atio
nal p
ublic
fund
ing
(c )
Nat
iona
l
pri
vate
fund
ing
(d) (
1)
Uni
on
sup
po
rt
(h) =
(a) -
(j)
Nat
iona
l
Co
unte
rpar
t
(i) =
(b) –
(k)
Uni
on
sup
po
rt
(j)
Nat
iona
l
Co
unte
rpar
t
(k) =
(b) *
((j)
/ (a
)
(l) =
(j) /
(a)
* 10
0
1E
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
ublic
58,5
25,6
3187
,788
,446
87,7
88,4
460.
0014
6,31
4,07
740
%0.
0054
,960
,617
82,4
40,9
25.0
03,
565,
014
5,34
7,52
16.
09%
2E
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
ublic
61,6
05,9
2792
,408
,890
92,4
08,8
900.
0015
4,01
4,81
740
%0.
0057
,853
,282
86,7
79,9
23.0
03,
752,
645
5,62
8,96
76.
09%
3E
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
ublic
82,1
41,2
3612
3,21
1,85
412
3,21
1,85
40.
0020
5,35
3,09
040
%0.
0077
,137
,710
115,
706,
565.
005,
003,
526
7,50
5,28
96.
09%
4E
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
ublic
3,08
0,29
64,
620,
445
4,62
0,44
50.
007,
700,
741
40%
0.00
3,08
0,29
64,
620,
445.
00
Tota
lE
SF
Tran
sitio
n20
5,35
3,09
030
8,02
9,63
530
8,02
9,63
50.
0051
3,38
2,72
540
%0.
0019
3,03
1,90
528
9,54
7,85
8.00
12,3
21,1
8518
,481
,777
6.00
%
Gra
nd
tota
l
205,
353,
090
308,
029,
635
308,
029,
635
0.00
513,
382,
725
40%
0.00
193,
031,
905
289,
547,
858.
0012
,321
,185
18,4
81,7
77
3. F
inan
cing
Pla
n
83
Tab
le 1
8b: Y
out
h E
mp
loym
ent
Init
iati
ve -
ES
F an
d Y
EI s
pec
ific
allo
cati
ons
– n
ot a
pplic
able
Pri
ori
ty
axis
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nB
asis
fo
r ca
lcul
atio
n o
f U
nio
n su
pp
ort
(To
tal e
ligib
le
cost
or
pub
lic
elig
ible
co
st)
Uni
on
sup
po
rt(a
)N
atio
nal
coun
terp
art
(b) =
(c) +
(d)
Ind
icat
ive
bre
akd
ow
n o
f na
tio
nal
coun
terp
art
Tota
l fun
din
g(e
) = (a
) + (b
)C
o-fi
nanc
ing
rat
e(f
) =
(a)/
(e) (
2)
Nat
iona
l pub
lic
fund
ing
(c )
Nat
iona
l pri
vate
fu
ndin
g(d
) (1)
Tota
l0.
000.
000.
000.
000.
00%
Rat
io%
Rat
io o
f ES
F fo
r le
ss d
evel
oped
regi
ons
0.00
%
Rat
io o
f ES
F fo
r tr
ansi
tion
regi
ons
0.00
%
Rat
io o
f ES
F fo
r m
ore
deve
lope
d re
gion
s0.
00%
84
Tab
le 1
8c: B
reak
do
wn
of
the
fina
ncia
l pla
n b
y p
rio
rity
axi
s, fu
nd, c
ateg
ory
of
reg
ion
and
the
mat
ic o
bje
ctiv
e
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nT
hem
atic
ob
ject
ive
Uni
on
sup
po
rtN
atio
nal c
oun
terp
art
Tota
l fun
din
g
Acc
ess
to
Em
ploy
m e
ntE
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
rom
otin
g su
stai
nabl
e an
d qu
ality
em
ploy
men
t and
sup
port
ing
labo
ur m
obilit
y58
,525
,631
87,7
88,4
4614
6,31
4,07
7
Soc
ial
Incl
usio
nE
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
rom
otin
g so
cial
incl
usio
n, c
omba
ting
pove
rty
and
any
disc
rimin
atio
n61
,605
,927
.92
,408
,890
154,
014,
817
Ski
lls fo
rG
row
thE
SF
Tran
sitio
nIn
vest
ing
in e
duca
tion,
trai
ning
and
voc
atio
nal t
rain
ing
for
skills
an
d lif
elon
g le
arni
ng82
,141
,236
123,
211,
854
205,
353,
090
Tota
l20
2,27
2,79
430
3,40
9,19
050
5,68
1,98
4
Tab
le 1
9: In
dic
ativ
e am
oun
t o
f su
pp
ort
to
be
used
fo
r cl
imat
e ch
ang
e o
bje
ctiv
es
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
Ind
icat
ive
amo
unt
of
sup
po
rt t
o b
e us
ed f
or
clim
ate
chan
ge
ob
ject
ives
(€)
Pro
po
rtio
n o
f th
e to
tal
allo
cati
on
to t
he o
per
atio
nal
pro
gra
mm
e (%
)
Tota
l0.
000.
00%
86
4. Integrated Approach to Territorial Development
Description of the integrated approach to territorial development taking into account the content and objectives of the operational programme having regard to the Partnership Agreement and showing how the operational programme contributes to the accomplishment of the objectives of the operational programme and expected results.
4.1. Community-led local development
The Partnership Agreement established that the Community-led local development model was not directly relevant to the ESF Operational Programme at this point in the 2014-2020 round. However, it may be re-considered at a future point during the period.
4.2 Integrated actions for sustainable urban development
Northern Ireland’s Economic Strategy recognises Belfast and Londonderry as key drivers of regional growth.The ESF Managing Authority will continue to engage with the ERDF Managing Authority to ensure ESI funds are used to support local activity in these and other areas. ESF investment will focus on promoting access to employment, social inclusion and skills for growth to encourage growth and jobs throughout NorthernIreland.
4.3 Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI)
Not applicable to this operational programme.
4.4. The arrangements for interregional and transnational actions, within the operational programme, with beneficiaries located in at least one other Member State
TRANSNATIONAL CO-OPERATION
The benefits of transnational working will be promoted by the Managing Authority in order to encourage those who wish to participate. The advantages of participation were highlighted in a review commissioned by the Managing Authority and undertaken by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA) In October 2010. The review highlighted potential barriers to projects engaging in transnational working and amongst these was:
• lack of awareness of what transitional working actually involved;• the issue of identification of potential partners; and• how the activity is funded within the programme.
Taking in to consideration the key issues identified in the review, the Managing Authority will institute the following affirmative actions in respect of the 2014 - 2020 programming period;
87
• awareness raising activities led by projects with expertise and experience in transnational working;
• the provision of a tool for the identification of potential partners with appropriate resources and support in place;
• transnational working may be financed from Technical Assistance, where appropriate.
Actions around transnational working will be targeted towards addressing specific needs within the programme area while maximising the added value that can be delivered.
Focus will be placed on actions which offer significant opportunity to develop common solutions to common and emerging issues; to strengthen capacities to innovate, modernise and adapt to new socio-economic challenges; and to promote and share information and good practice.
In the 2007 – 2013 Programme the ESF Managing Authority in Northern Ireland led on the Learning Network on Empowerment and Inclusion and participated in three other networks.
4.5. Contribution of the planned actions under the programme to macro-regional and sea-basin strategies, subject to the needs of the programme area as identified by the Member State
Not applicable to this operational programme.
Table 20: Integrated actions for sustainable urban development – indicative amounts of ERDF and ESF support
Fund ERDF and ESF support(indicative)
(€)
Proportion of fund’s total
allocation to programme
Total ESF 0.00 0.00%
TOTAL ERDF+ESF 0.00 0.00%
88
4.3 Integrated Territorial Investment (ITI) (where appropriate)The approach to the use of Integrated Territorial Investments (ITIs) (as defined in Article36 of Regulation (EU) No 1303/2013) other than in cases covered by 4.2, and their indicative financial allocation from each priority axis.
Not applicable to this operational programme.
Table 21: Indicative financial allocation to ITI other than those mentioned under point 4.2 (aggregate amount)
Priority axis
Fund Indicative financial allocation (Union
support) (€)1 - Access to Employment ESF 0.00
2 - Social Inclusion ESF 0.00
3 - Skills for Growth ESF 0.00
Total 0.00
4.4 The arrangements for interregional and transnational actions, within the operational programme, with beneficiaries located in at least one other Member State
Not applicable to this operational programme.
4.5 Contribution of the planned actions under the programme to macro-regional and sea basin strategies, subject to the needs of the programme area as identified by the Member State
(Where the Member State and regions participate in macro-regional strategies and sea basin strategies).
Not applicable to this operational programme.
90
5. Specific Needs of Geographical Areas Most Affected by Poverty or Target Groups at Highest Risk of Discrimination or Social Exclusion
5.1 Geographical areas most affected by poverty/target groups at highest risk of discrimination or social exclusion
The Northern Ireland socio-economic analysis shows that the region remains one of the most deprived of the UK. This is a result of a number of factors including a young population (hence higher dependency rates); low labour market participation rates; a high rate of economic inactivity; a larger share of employment in sectors of low productivity; and below average wages.
Relative poverty is defined as individuals living in households whose equivalised income is below 60% of UK median income in the same year. Absolute poverty is measured as Individuals living in households whose equivalised income is below 60% of the (inflation adjusted) GB median income in 1998/99. In 2010/11 there were 355k people in relative poverty and 232k people in absolute poverty in NI both Before Housing Costs (BHC)23. This equates to 20% and 13% of the population respectively.
In 2010/11, 21% of children (93k) were in relative poverty and 13% were in absolute poverty (59k). Relative child poverty (BHC) is now at its lowest since the Households Below Average Income (HBAI) series was introduced in NI in 2002/03. Absolute child poverty (BHC) in 2010/11 was two percentage points higher than the ‘low’ reached in2006/07 (11%), although the overall trend is downwards.
Between 2009/10 and 2010/11 the proportion of working age adults in relative poverty decreased by one percentage point, from 20% to 19%, which equates to 199,000 persons. Absolute poverty for working age adults increased from 12% in 2009/10 to 13% in 2010/11 equating to 136,000 working age adults.
Working age adults have been the largest proportion of those in relative income poverty over the last decade however the numbers have decreased from 49% in 2002/03 to 47% in 2010/11. This is followed by children whose share has increased from 31% in 2002/03 to 32% in 2010/11.
The largest proportion of working age adult poverty is in workless households (47%). This is followed by households in which only one adult is in work (36%). Even where all adults in the household are in work, poverty still remains (16%).
23 Income Before Housing Costs (BHC) includes the following main components: usual net earnings from employment; profit or loss from self-employment ; all Social Security benefits and Tax Credits; income from occupational and private pensions; investment income; maintenance payments, if a person receives them directly; income from educational grants and scholarships; the cash value of certain forms of income in kind (free school meals, Healthy Start vouchers and free school milk, and free TV licence for those aged 75 and over).
91
Figure A: NI Multiple Deprivation Measure Rank (Super Output Area Deciles) Source: Social Economic Analysis Jan 2015
Figure A: NI Multiple Deprivation Measure Rank (Super Output Area Deciles) Source: Social Economic Analysis Jan 2015
Figure A illustrates the relative levels of deprivation within NI in 2010. Despite the largest household incomes being in Belfast, some of the most deprived Super Output Areas are located in the Belfast City Council area, including Whiterock, Falls, New Lodge, Shankill and Crumlin. Other areas of high deprivation located outside of Belfast are in the Strabane, Derry, Craigavon, Newry and Mourne and Lisburn Local Government Districts. Some of the least deprived areas in NI can be found in North Down, Castlereagh and Newtownabbey Local Government Districts.
92
A similar distribution can be seen with regard to employment deprivation across Northern Ireland, with Derry/Londonderry, Limavady, Strabane, Lisburn and Belfast containing some of the most deprived wards in terms of employment. The distribution of health and disability deprivation is also similar to the distribution of multiple deprivations. Belfast and Derry/Londonderry contain a large number of the areas in the most deprived deciles and there are clusters of deprivation in Lisburn and Craigavon. The least deprived areas tend to be in the east of NI, with clusters of low deprivation also visible in Ballymena and Coleraine.
NEETs by Local Government District
As a result of the review of public administration (RPA) undertaken in NorthernIreland, a reform programme is under way which will see 11 new councils take over from the current 26.
In developing the ESF programme, we have engaged extensively with local Government representatives to identify and map needs in the new Council areas to align with potential ESF provision. It is also proposed that there will be council representation on project selection panels for the 2014-2020 Programme to ensure that local need is met.
Figure B shows the distribution of young people who are NEET by current local government district, as information based on the new council districts is not yet available.
The proportion of the 16-24 population who are NEET varies across the local Government Districts from 11.2% to 21.3%, and the NI average is 14.7%24. The highest levels of NEETs are in Limavady, Derry and Moyle (21.3%, 19.1% and 18.2% respectively). The lowest levels of NEETS are in Newtownabbey, Cookstown and Castlereagh (11.2%, 12.0% and 12.3% respectively).
24 The information is derived from Census data (2011) and shows a slight variation from the information provided earlier in the document, based on the Labour Force survey.
93
Main Groups Targeted for support under ESF
The main groups of people to be supported with ESF funding are those furthest from the labour market and with significant barriers to entering employment – the unemployed, including long-term unemployed and economically inactive people.
Support under Priority 1 will also be targeted at young people aged 16-24 who are not in employment education or training (NEET).
Under Priority 2 there will be support for families, where at least one family member is NEET or in danger of falling into the NEET category. People with a disability will also be a key target group for support under this Priority.
Figure B: Proportion of NEETS (16-24 yr olds) Source: Census 2011
Figure B: Proportion of NEETS (16-24 yr olds) Source: Census 2011
94
Under Priority 3 investment in apprenticeships and youth training will ensure progression in employment thus helping to reduce in-work poverty. The review of apprenticeships aims to develop an apprenticeship model that facilitates access to quality training and greater opportunities to progress from level 2 through to level 8. The review of youth training that is currently taking place, aims to examine current provision at level 2, including opportunities to simplify the curriculum offer and progression pathways. The review also seeks to target support as effectively as possible on the needs of young people and the wider economy. Apprenticeships will include a range of measures to support participation by both genders across occupations.
ESF support will ensure that the needs of the individual are taken into account and the training and support provided will enhance employability skills and contribute to enhancing social inclusion in addition to reducing unemployment.
Commissioning of projects will be on a Northern Ireland wide basis as we recognise that there may be people in need of support who may not live in an area of multiple deprivation. We wish to address individual need wherever it occurs
5.2 Strategy to address the specific needs of geographical areas most affected by poverty/target groups at highest risk of discrimination or social exclusion, and where relevant, the contribution to the integrated approach set out in the Partnership Agreement
Promoting access to sustainable employment is seen in Northern Ireland as the best route for tackling poverty and social exclusion. By focusing on actions that encourage people to overcome barriers to employment, we will make a valuable contribution to reducing both poverty and social isolation.
Northern Ireland’s approach to overcoming poverty and disadvantage is through two important strategies, Delivering Social Change (DSC) and the Economic Inactivity strategy. DSC is a comprehensive new delivery framework developed by the NI Executive which aims to deliver the following two outcomes:
• a sustained reduction in poverty and associated issues, across all ages; and• an improvement in children and young people’s health, wellbeing and life
opportunities, thereby breaking the long-term cycle of multi-generational problems.
95
Specifically, it seeks to ensure:
• effective cross-departmental working;• that mainstream programmes are supported by a co-ordinated initiative to help
tackle the long-term problems associated with deprivation; and• that more people join and/or remain in the work force and have the appropriate
work skills to strengthen economic growth.
Delivering Social Change has been developed to provide streamlined governance for social policy across the Executive, with clear lines of accountability and a focus on delivering additional actions that can add real value and achieve measurable improvements. It complements the Northern Ireland Economic Strategy with a broad and integrated approach to tackling poverty designed to ensure that more people join and/or remain in the labour force.
The Northern Ireland ESF Programme will support relevant policies in the strategy to increase labour market participation and eliminate child poverty by helping to increase access to the labour market for parents.
DSC encompasses the NEET strategy – Pathways to Success –and the Community Family Support programme both of which focus on helping young people to overcome their barriers to entering employment, training or education. In developing the Pathways to Success Strategy for Northern Ireland, research has shown that those in the NEET category are concentrated in more deprived communities. These communities have a double challenge – they are not only having to deal with the social and economic hardships that other deprived communities across Europe are dealing with – but they are also having to struggle with the legacy of decades of conflict and division. Furthermore, they are doing this at a time when the economic and labour market conditions are far from ideal.
Community Family Support Programme
The Pathways to Success strategy identified that significant support for individuals and their families would be required to enable these young people to participate in meaningful and rewarding work, education or training (or a combination of these). This led to the establishment of the Community Family Support Programme (CFSP), which has been designed to help families make life changing decisions to enhance their prospects and become full participants in society.
The programme aims to address the NEET problem in a more strategic way by targeting families where at least one member is NEET, or in the case of younger family members, in danger of falling into the NEET category. By targeting families in this way, parents and indeed grandparents benefit from the intervention and are supported in overcoming barriers to employment. Professional support workers engage and
96
consult with parents of children and young people to promote early intervention and high quality parenting and to identify solutions to address their specific needs. This programme links to a wider group of interventions designed to address family issues in a holistic and integrated way.
Economic Inactivity Strategy
The Northern Ireland Executive’s Programme for Government included a commitment for the Department for Employment and Learning and the Department of Enterprise Trade and Investment to develop and implement a new Strategy to address economic inactivity through skills development, targeted incentives and job creation. A baseline analysis of economic inactivity in Northern Ireland has highlighted two inactive groups as the key targets of the strategy: those with a work-limiting long-term illness or disability, and those with family commitments, specifically lone parents. Of the major inactive categories, these groups represent the greatest contributors to workless households, poverty, and dependence on out-of-work benefits. Measures taken forward under the strategy will focus on re-engaging those currently facing barriers to employment, and identifying preventative measures to prevent at-risk individuals from disengaging from work. Activity funded through the ESF programme, will contribute to the implementation of the Strategy by assisting those furthest from the labour market to overcome their barriers to employment.
The ESF programme through thematic objective 8 will support those who are furthest from the labour market and therefore more likely to experience poverty, and young people who are not in employment, education or training.
Through priority 2, thematic objective 9, the programme focuses on two distinct groups of people. The first group is people with a disability. ESF funding will support 13,000 people with a disability by providing tailored provision that will enhance their prospects by helping them overcome the significant barriers to entering employment, education or training and thereby contributing to reducing the social isolation often experienced by this particular group.
The second group is families where at least one family member is NEET or in danger of falling into the NEET category as detailed in the section on Community Family Support. Currently there are approximately 29,00025 young people in Northern Ireland who are NEET - 13% of the age group. This, coupled with the high levels of economic inactivity and resultant levels of poverty, has given rise to the need for concerted effort to address the issue.
25 The information is derived from Census data (2011) and shows a slight variation from the information provided earlier in the document, based on the Labour Force survey.
97
Interventions in the ESF Programme will focus on individual need and ensure that provision is aligned to meet that need. In order to ensure that those most in need are identified in both rural and urban areas, proposals for project activity will be commissioned through an open call system separately for each key strand of the Programme. Selection of projects will then be made by a panel of experts which will include representatives from district councils who have first-hand experience of the particular needs at local level, as well as other statutory bodies which are potential match funders. The ESF programme will therefore be targeted to support the needs of groups most at risk of, or affected by poverty and exclusion, and those facing disadvantage through disability, unemployment or economic inactivity.
98
Tab
le 2
2: A
ctio
ns t
o a
dd
ress
sp
ecifi
c ne
eds
of
geo
gra
phi
cal a
reas
mo
st a
ffec
ted
by
po
vert
y/ta
rget
gro
ups
at h
ighe
st r
isk
of
d
iscr
imin
atio
n o
r so
cial
exc
lusi
on
Targ
et g
roup
/geo
gra
phi
cal a
rea
Mai
n ty
pes
of
pla
nned
act
ion
as p
art
of
inte
gra
ted
ap
pro
ach
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
Fund
Cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
nIn
vest
men
t p
rio
rity
Oth
er g
roup
s -
Une
mpl
oyed
/inac
tive
peop
le fo
r ex
ampl
e lo
ne p
aren
ts,p
eopl
e w
ith lo
w o
r no
qu
alifi
catio
ns
Sup
port
for
acce
ss to
sus
tain
able
em
ploy
men
t suc
h as
job
sear
ch
empl
oym
ent b
roke
rage
and
or
the
achi
evem
ent o
f wor
k re
leva
nt s
kills
.
Act
iviti
es w
hich
pro
vide
acc
ess
to e
mpl
oym
ent o
ppor
tuni
ties
by
addr
essi
ng id
entifi
ed b
arrie
rs s
uch
as la
ck o
f em
ploy
abilit
y sk
ills o
r th
e ne
ed fo
r ch
ildca
re fa
cilit
ies.
Tar
gete
d su
ppor
t to
empl
oyer
s/pr
ojec
t pr
ovid
ers
to e
ngag
e fo
r ex
ampl
e, lo
ne p
aren
ts, w
omen
, ex-
offe
nder
s.
1 -
Acc
ess
toE
mpl
oym
ent
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
8i -
Acc
ess
to e
mpl
oym
ent f
or jo
b se
eker
s an
d in
activ
e pe
ople
, inc
ludi
ng th
e lo
ng te
rm
unem
ploy
ed a
nd p
eopl
e fa
r fro
m th
e la
bour
m
arke
t, al
so th
roug
h lo
cal e
mpl
oym
ent i
nitia
tives
an
d su
ppor
t for
labo
ur m
obilit
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g pe
ople
who
are
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in
Em
ploy
men
t, E
duca
tion
or T
rain
ing
(NE
ET)
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port
for
youn
g pe
ople
who
are
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in E
duca
tion,
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ploy
men
t or
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ning
(NE
ET)
to g
ain
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and
exp
erie
nce
to a
cces
s su
stai
nabl
e em
ploy
men
t inc
ludi
ng s
elf e
mpl
oym
ent.
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Acc
ess
toE
mpl
oym
ent
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
8ii -
Sus
tain
able
inte
grat
ion
into
the
labo
ur
mar
ket o
f you
ng p
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e (E
SF)
, in
part
icul
ar
thos
e no
t in
empl
oym
ent,
educ
atio
n or
tr
aini
ng, i
nclu
ding
you
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eopl
e at
risk
of
soci
al e
xclu
sion
and
you
ng p
eopl
e fro
m
mar
gina
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ities
, inc
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roug
h th
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plem
enta
tion
of th
e Yo
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with
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ility
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port
for
acce
ss to
sus
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ploy
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job
sear
ch,
empl
oym
ent b
roke
rage
and
/ or
the
achi
evem
ent o
f wor
k re
leva
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kills
.
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cific
sup
port
suc
h as
tailo
r mad
e tr
aini
ng a
nd s
uppo
rt fo
r th
ose
with
mor
e co
mpl
ex b
arrie
rs to
em
ploy
men
t suc
h as
wor
k lim
iting
hea
lth
cond
ition
s.
Targ
eted
sup
port
to e
mpl
oyer
s/pr
ojec
t pro
vide
rs to
eng
age/
empl
oy
peop
le w
ith a
dis
abilit
y.
2 -
Soc
ial I
nclu
sion
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
9i (a
) - A
ctiv
e in
clus
ion,
incl
udin
g w
ith a
vie
w
to p
rom
otin
g eq
ual o
ppor
tuni
ties
and
activ
e pa
rtic
ipat
ion,
and
impr
ovin
g em
ploy
abilit
y
NE
ETs
and
thei
r fam
ilies
Sup
port
and
adv
ice
for
NE
ETs
and
thei
r fam
ilies
from
targ
eted
are
as
to a
ddre
ss th
eir p
artic
ular
bar
riers
to a
cces
sing
em
ploy
men
t or
educ
atio
nal/t
rain
ing
oppo
rtun
ities
.
Hel
p to
re-e
ngag
e w
ith e
duca
tion/
trai
ning
.
Act
ivity
to h
elp
prev
ent y
oung
er fa
mily
mem
bers
from
bec
omin
g N
EE
T.
2 -
Soc
ial I
nclu
sion
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
9i (b
) - A
ctiv
e in
clus
ion,
incl
udin
g w
ith a
vie
w
to p
rom
otin
g eq
ual o
ppor
tuni
ties
and
activ
e pa
rtic
ipat
ion,
and
impr
ovin
g em
ploy
abilit
y
Em
ploy
ed p
erso
ns w
ith lo
w q
ualifi
catio
nsA
ppre
ntic
eshi
ps a
nd a
ctio
ns to
pro
mot
e ac
cess
to a
ppre
ntic
eshi
ps3
- S
kills
for
Gro
wth
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
10iv
- Im
prov
ing
the
labo
ur m
arke
t rel
evan
ce
of e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
sys
tem
s, fa
cilit
atin
g th
e tr
ansi
tion
from
edu
catio
n to
wor
k, a
nd
stre
ngth
enin
g vo
catio
nal e
duca
tion
and
trai
ning
sys
tem
s an
d th
eir
qual
ity, i
nclu
ding
th
roug
h m
echa
nism
s fo
r sk
ills a
ntic
ipat
ion,
ad
apta
tion
of c
urric
ula
and
the
esta
blis
hmen
t an
d de
velo
pmen
t of w
ork
base
d le
arni
ng
syst
ems,
incl
udin
g du
al le
arni
ng s
yste
ms
and
appr
entic
eshi
p sc
hem
es
100
6. Specific Needs of Geographical Areas Which Suffer From Severe and Permanent Natural or Demographic Handicaps
As highlighted in the UK Partnership agreement, Northern Ireland does not fall within scope of Article 174, therefore this section is not applicable.
102
7. Authorities and Bodies Responsible for Management, Control and Audit and the Role of Relevant Partners
7.1 Relevant authorities and bodies
Table 23: Relevant authorities and bodies
Authority/body Name of authority/body and department or unit
Head of authority/body (position or post)
Managing Authority Department for Employment and Learning
John Noble
Certifying Authority Department for Employment and Learning
Rosemary Mulholland
Audit Authority Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment
Jackie Connolly
Body to which Commission will make payments
Department for Employment and Learning
Stephen McMurray
7.2 Involvement of relevant partners
7.2.1 Actions taken to involve the relevant partners in the preparation of the operational programme, and the role of those partners in the implementation, monitoring and evaluation of the programme
Role of Partners in Preparation of Operational Programme
The Operational programme has been developed in partnership with Government Departments in Northern Ireland and a wide range of regional stakeholders from the public, private, voluntary and community sectors. The list of partners is referenced at section 12.
Ongoing engagement has been facilitated through a Consultative Partnership Group which was established in September 2012. The decision was taken to invite organisations to nominate based on membership of the 2007-2013 Programme Monitoring Committee for Competitiveness and Employment with representatives of local government, Environment Bodies, Equality Commission, Education, Higher Education, Voluntary and Community sector, Trades Unions, Business, the Agri-Rural sector and the Energy sector. In addition representatives from the European Commission (DG REGIO, EMPLOY and AGRI) were invited to attend as observers as are representatives of the Northern Ireland MEPs. Members were nominated by representative organisations identified for the 2007-2013 Monitoring Committee and alternates/deputies are also nominated to ensure participation. (A list of current member organisations of the Consultative Partnership Group is attached in section 12).
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26 Northern Ireland and Europe in Partnership, Preparing for the 2014-2020 Round of European Programmes, A Reflection Exercise, Department of Finance and Personnel, April 2012
Input provided by members of the Group has been taken on board and reflected where possible in this Programme. The group met 8 times during the preparation of the programme.
In addition to considering potential content for the future ERDF and ESF Programmes, the Consultative Partnership Group provided input on Northern Ireland’s contribution to the United Kingdom Partnership Agreement for the 2014-2020 programming period.The Group also provided input on what form a local government dimension of the new Structural Funds programmes might take and how it might be delivered to ensure the most efficient and effective use of resources available.
In April 2015, as part of the reform of local government in Northern Ireland, the number of Councils is reducing from 26 to 11. This will involve the transfer of some statutory functions from some Government Departments to the newly formed Councils.
Whilst none of DEL’s functions will be transferring to local government, discussions are ongoing between DEL officials and local government representatives to determine how Councils may be more involved in the selection of projects, taking account of their understanding of local needs and their potential to be match funders of individual projects.
The Department for Employment and Learning will also involve other statutory bodies, particularly other potential match funders, in the selection process.
The Department of Finance and Personnel (DfP) European Division launched an informal consultation; the Northern Ireland & Europe in Partnership Reflection Exercise26 – on future EU funding programming in April 2012 and the feedback from this exercise was used in developing the contents of the ESF programme.
Wider Stakeholder Engagement
In considering proposed activity for inclusion in the draft ESF Programme DEL also engaged directly with a wide range of stakeholders. Informal consultation took place between the DEL and local government representatives as part of a broader process led by DFP and involving all prospective managing authorities for the next round of EU Structural Funds. DEL continues to engage with local government representatives in order to ensure their views are taken into account particularly at the application and selection stages of the implementation process.
In addition, informal and formal consultation also took place with Community and Voluntary sector representatives and feedback was received from the sector with regard to how future ESF funding could best be utilised, within the constraints of EU regulations. Engagement with NI Executive Departments was also ongoing.
104
Formal Consultation
A 12 week public consultation process, which began on 29th July 2013, ensured that as broad a spectrum as possible of opinion could be taken into account in finalising the ESF programme. An analysis of responses to the consultation was published in December 2013 on the Department’s website. Partnership arrangements will continue as Programme activity is prepared, implemented, monitored and evaluated. In addition to taking account of the relevant EU national and regional strategies in developing the operational programme, the following activity was also undertaken.
Mid –Term Evaluation of 2007-2013 Programme
The result of a mid-term evaluation of the 2007-2013 ESF Programme was taken into account and informed the development of the new programme. During the 2007-2013 programming period, the focus of activity was on helping people into sustainable employment and improving the skills levels of the NI workforce. The mid-term evaluation report and the Reflection Exercise both recognised the need to retain a strong focus on continuing ESF interventions on employment and skills.
Changes to the Programme
In developing the 2014-2020 Programme, the views of partners have been taken into account and the following key changes have been made:
• Inclusion of Thematic Objective 9
The number of thematic objectives in the Programme has been increased from two to three. The original proposal was to deliver the Programme solely through thematic objectives 8 and 10, as it was felt that activity within these two objectives would also contribute to combating poverty and enhancing social inclusion. However, discussion with partners, including representatives of the Community and Voluntary sector, resulted in agreement to allocate funding for combating poverty and enhancing social inclusion to thematic objective 9. Support for this approach was evident in feedback to the consultation exercise which ran from July to October 2013 and was endorsed by the Consultative partnership group.
• Greater Local Government involvement
Discussions have been ongoing between DEL officials and local government representatives to identify opportunities for greater involvement in the ESF selection process. A group was established and regular meetings held to consider the possibility of identifying and mapping needs in Council areas to align with potential ESF provision.
105
• More strategic Approach to Project Selection
Project selection will be undertaken by an expert panel consisting of DEL staff with particular expertise in relevant areas, and representatives of local government and other key statutory agencies, such as potential match funders. Calls for Project activity will be based on the 3 priorities in the new Programme.
Ex-ante Evaluation
An important aspect of the development of the ESF Programme is the ex ante evaluation carried out by the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). This is an iterative process to ensure that the Programme responds to identified socio economic and labour market needs and reflects local, UK and EU priorities and policies. Through the Ex-ante evaluation, the programme is reviewed as it progresses to identify and appraise any disparities, gaps and potential for development. The evaluation will also ensure the coherence of the programme with the EU 2020 strategic priorities. Information provided throughout the Ex-ante evaluation is fed by NISRA into the development of the Programme by DEL.
Socio-economic analysis
A socio-economic analysis of Northern Ireland is also a requirement of Programme development. This analysis has been undertaken by economists from the Department of Finance and Personnel. It provides a socio-economic assessment of Northern Ireland to inform the development of the region’s Operational Programmes for both the European Social Fund (ESF) and European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) for the period2014-2020. The analysis provides a detailed assessment of socio-economic need in relation to each of these themes and objectives, highlighting the region’s strengths and weaknesses in this regard.
Implementation of the Programme
The Northern Ireland ESF Programme will be implemented in partnership with the European Commission and with appropriate authorities and bodies in accordance with regional and national rules and practice.
At Programme level, partnership will be embodied in the Programme Monitoring Committee, which will be responsible for monitoring implementation of the programme. Reflecting the principle of partnership, its membership will be drawn from representatives reflecting the regional and sectoral interests in the programme, including the economic and social partners. The European Commission will be represented in an advisory capacity. There must be a gender balance in representation on the Committee. The Committee will set its rules of procedures with the Managing Authority within theinstitutional, legal and financial framework of the Member State. It is expected to meet at least twice a year.
106
Monitoring and Evaluation of the OP
Monitoring will be carried out by the Managing Authority under the supervision of the Programme Monitoring Committee. Monitoring will ensure the quality and effectiveness of implementation through assessment of progress towards achievement of the financial and non financial indicators and those concerning qualitative aspects of implementation.
Annual Implementation Report (AIR)
The Common Provisions Regulation (CPR) aims to simplify annual reporting. Annual reports for the years 2016, 2018, 2020, 2021, 2022 will follow a simplified procedure. The annual report submitted in 2017 and 2019 as well as the final report of 2023 will be more strategic in nature,
The Commission will consider the implementation reports admissible only if they contain all the required information as set out in the Programme Operating Manual. The first Annual Implementation Report (AIR) is due in 2016 (CPR, Art. 44 and 101). This AIR shall cover years 2014 and 2015. The deadline for submitting this and the following AIRs is 30 April. The deadline for submitting the final report is 30 September 2023.
Designation of Authorities
Managing Authority
The Department for Employment and Learning is the prospective Managing Authority of the Northern Ireland ESF Programme and will be responsible for the following functions:
• Ensuring that projects are selected for funding in accordance with the criteria applicable to the operational programme and compliance with Community and National rules;
• Verifying that services are delivered and that expenditure declared by the beneficiaries for operations has actually been incurred;
• On-the-spot verifications of individual operations in accordance with Commission rules;• Ensuring that there is a system for collecting, recording and storing data in the format
required by the Commission;• Ensuring that beneficiaries and other bodies comply with guidance regarding the
implementation of operations;• Ensuring that evaluations are carried out according to Council Regulations;• Setting up procedures to ensure an adequate audit trail;• Guiding the work of the Monitoring Committee and submitting to the Commission the
annual and final implementation reports; and• Ensuring compliance with information and publicity requirements.
107
Certifying Authority
DEL is also the designated Certifying Authority for the Programme. To ensure adequate separation of responsibilities the Certifying Authority is functionally independent. Functions include: -
• Drawing up and submitting to the Commission certified statements of expenditure and applications for payment;
• Ensuring that expenditure declared complies with applicable community and national rules and has been incurred;
• Ensuring that adequate information has been received from the Managing Authority on the procedures and verifications carried out;
• Taking account of the results of all audits carried out by or under the responsibility of the Audit Authority;
• Maintaining accounting records; and
• Keeping an account of amounts recoverable, withdrawn or cancelled.
Audit Authority
The Audit Authority is required by regulation to provide the Commission with a description of the management and control systems operated by the Managing Authority for the ESF Programme, together with an opinion on the systems’ regulatory compliance. The functions of the Audit Authority include:-
• Ensuring that sample audits are carried out to verify the effective functioning of the management and control systems declared by 31 December each year;
• Submitting to the Commission an annual control report setting out the findings of the audits carried out in accordance with the audit strategy of the operational programme and reporting any shortcomings found; and
• Issuing an opinion, on the basis of the controls and audits carried out.
108
7.2.2 Global grants – The ESF Managing Authority will not use global grants in the2014-2020 programming period.
7.2.3 Allocation of an amount for capacity building – There will be no allocation of an amount specifically for capacity building.
110
8. Co-ordination Between the Funds, the EAFRD, the EMFF and Other Union and National Funding Instruments, and With the EIB
The mechanisms to ensure co-ordination between the Funds, the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD), the European Maritime and Fisheries Fund (EMFF) and other Union and national funding instruments, and with the European Investment Bank (EIB), taking into account the relevant provisions laid down in the Common Strategic Framework.
Monitoring Committee
The Northern Ireland ESF and ERDF programmes have been developed in the context of the regional strategic approach to ensure complementarity of programme spending. A single Monitoring Committee will oversee the management and implementation of both Programmes, thus ensuring future complementarity. The Monitoring Committee will be set up within 3 months of approval of the Programme. The single Monitoring Committee for both the ESF and ERDF Programmes will also include an observer from the rural development and fisheries fund programmes.
ESI Funds Co-ordination Committee
As described in the Northern Ireland chapter of the UK Partnership Agreement, the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) chairs a European Structural Investment Funds (ESIF) funds co-ordination committee of officials representing Programme Authorities for all ESI Funds for Northern Ireland. This committee will be responsible for promoting the strategic coordination and complementarity of ESI programmes within Northern Ireland and harmonising the interface experienced by beneficiaries of all funds as far as possible.
Responsibility for co-ordination of general EU Cohesion Policy Funding in Northern Ireland for instruments outside the European Structural and Investment Funds will be carried in part by the interdepartmental officials working group, the EU Steering Group (Working Group), chaired by DFP. This enables the ESIF programmes within the Common Strategic Framework to coordinate support with other European programmes and networks.
To ensure complementarity from the outset, the Committee has worked together to develop individual programmes in parallel to ensure that the activities funded under the individual programmes in the 2014-2020 period complement the activities proposed under the other programmes. This integrated approach to the development of all Northern Ireland EU Programmes should help maximise the impact of the limited resources available, avoid duplication and allow greater concentration/specialisation within programmes.
The Special EU Programmes Body, which is responsible for the INTERREG V and PEACE IV Programmes and the Department of Agriculture and Rural Development (DARD), which is responsible for the management of the EAFRD and EMFF programmes, are both represented on the EU steering group and the Consultative Partnership Group which leads the development of the programme for Growth and Jobs in Northern Ireland. In this way, complementarity with these programmes can be assured. Engagement with other Managing authorities in Northern Ireland in this way, will ensure that there will be opportunities to consider the scope for synergies in areas such as climate action or in the type of actions to be funded,as the Programmes develop. Further information on the makeup and operation of the ESI funds co-ordination committee is available at section 7.
111
Barosso Taskforce
In May 2007 the European Commission established a Task Force to assist Northern Ireland in maximising available European funding opportunities. The Commission Task Force for Northern Ireland continues to operate for this purpose. The working group is chaired by Junior Ministers in the Office of First Minister / Deputy First Minister and currently includes four thematic working groups:
• Competitiveness and Employment;• Innovation and Technology;• Climate Change and Energy; and• Social Cohesion.
Complementarity with DEL mainstream Provision
Delivery of the ESF programme in Northern Ireland will complement and add value to mainstream provision. For those people with barriers to accessing employment, education or training, and who may have had negative experiences of mainstream provision, the added value from ESF funded activity lies in the flexibility afforded by providers and the ability to match provision with the particular needs of the individual.
The ApprenticeshipsNI Programme
The ApprenticeshipsNI programme, which is supported by ESF funding, provides quality training in the workplace and supports off-the-job training to help build Northern Ireland’s reputation as a region of highly skilled workers. As outlined in section one,DEL is currently consulting on a review of apprenticeship provision with the aim of ensuring that apprenticeships reflect the changing requirements of the Northern Ireland economy, are highly regarded by both employers and jobseekers, and offer progression pathways with equal status to academic routes.
Disability Employment Service
The Disability Employment Service and the five Health and Social Care Trusts currently match fund projects throughout Northern Ireland that receive ESF support, in order to deliver training and employment services to people with disabilities.
Training for Success (TfS)
This is a programme designed for young people aged 16-18 (up to 24 years for those requiring additional support) and provides a guaranteed training place to give them the tools and skills they need to get a job.
Youth Employment Scheme (YES)
Announced in July 2012, in response to the major challenge of youth unemployment, YES aims to ensure that young people who are currently unemployed are provided, at
112
the earliest possible stage, with the skills to gain jobs, compete for jobs created in the future and retain and progress in those jobs.
PEACE IV and Territorial Co-operation Programmes for Northern Ireland.
The Special EU Programmes Body manages cross-border EU Structural Funds in Northern Ireland. It is a North South Implementation Body sponsored by the Department of Finance and Personnel in Northern Ireland and the Department of Finance in Ireland. The Northern Ireland ESF Programme has been developed in the context of the regional strategic approach to ensure complementarity of programme spending with PEACE IV.
The PEACE Programme will be primarily focussed towards those young people living in areas of disadvantage, which correlates closely with those areas most affected by the conflict. In keeping with the overall PEACE programme objectives, all interventions will have a specific focus on developing respect for diversity.
It is envisaged that all programmes of activity will be delivered on a shared basis which gives young people opportunity for sustained, purposeful interaction with others from a different background. In addition, programmes will be encouraged to include a cross- border element.
Avoidance of Duplication of Support
At a regional level the SEUPB has co-ordinated the development of this programme in close consultation with the relevant authorities in Northern Ireland and Ireland who are responsible for the development of other programmes. To facilitate this process in Northern Ireland, the Department of Finance and Personnel chairs regular meetings between the respective Managing Authorities, including the SEUPB. In addition, the SEUPB attends the Consultative Partnership Group in Northern Ireland which leads the development of the programme for Growth and Jobs. In Ireland, the SEUPB is a member of the National Strategic Reference Framework Monitoring Committee that co-ordinates the development of all ESI funded programmes, including the Border Midlands and West Regional Programme. The Programme Development Steering Group for the PEACE Programmes includes representation from all the relevant national and regional bodies in the eligible region with programme planning responsibility.
All ESI funded programmes have a requirement to demonstrate focus and concentration. All programmes are based on a common list of thematic objectives, however the distinctive nature of the investment priority for the PEACE Programme ensures there is limited potential for duplication of activity. Whilst not all activities may be cross-border in nature, (Article 12 Regulation (EU) No. 1299/2013) the programme will encourage the adoption of cross-border approaches to addressing local needs. This will distinguish the programme activities from other regional programmes. Other relevant national/ regional programmes bodies and policy Departments in the eligible programme area will be consulted during project selection to ensure maximum levels of coordination with regional programmes.
113
The ESF funded programmes in Northern Ireland and Ireland have identified young people in need of education training and employment as a target group. The PEACE programme will co-ordinate closely with ESF funded programmes to ensure PEACE activity is additional to that provided by the ESF funded programmes. The PEACE funded initiatives will concentrate on respect for diversity and soft employment skills, with a strong focus on those individuals from the most disadvantaged areas. In this manner PEACE will complement rather than duplicate any ESF funded activity.
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) and European Maritime Fisheries Fund (EMFF)Northern Ireland’s ESF and ERDF Programmes will promote and support economic regeneration throughout the region including in urban, rural and border areas. Complementarity and coherence between actions financed by the ERDF, ESF, EMFF, EAFRD and Cross Border Co-operation Programmes will thus be ensured. The EAFRD Programme will support actions to improve the competitiveness of the agricultural and forestry sectors, improve the environment and the countryside and improve the quality of life in rural areas and diversification of the rural economy.
The EMFF policies will focus on the fishing sector, to promote sustainable and profitable development and support strong local fishing communities. The EMFF will also contribute to the effective management of the sector and be integral to wider policies for the aquatic environment. The Northern Ireland ESF Programme will not support specific sectoral activities for which other funding instruments are more appropriate.
Complementarity between ESF and EAFRD in terms of types of operations to be funded is demonstrated through the Apprenticeship programme. In developing the Government led Apprenticeship programme,the apprenticeship positions (jobs) are created by employers in line with their business needs with the off-the-job training aligned to qualifications in the apprenticeship frameworks. The current suite of apprenticeship frameworks includes a framework specifically related to Agriculture.
Apprentices must follow the relevant apprenticeship framework when completing theApprenticeshipsNI programme – see links below.
www.nidirect.gov.uk/index/information-and-services/education-and-learning/14-19/its-your-choice-options-after-16/apprenticeshipsni/index/information-and- services/education-and-learning/14-19/starter-skills-16-18/apprenticeships/types-of- apprenticeships/level-3-frameworks-apprenticeships
www.nidirect.gov.uk/appni-level-3-agriculture.pdf?rev=0
The content of this framework has been agreed between the Department for Employment and Learning and Lantra – the Sectoral Skills Council for Environment and land based industries. This is the only NVQ Level 3 training in this skill acceptable for the receipt of ApprenticeshipsNI funding.
114
European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) In developing the ESF programme, DEL has worked closely with DETI, the Managing Authority for the ERDF programme to ensure maximum impact from the Investment for Growth and Jobs Programme. Complementarity exists between these two programmes in that both are concerned with supporting the aims of the NI Economic Strategy. DEL for example has identified a number of priority sectors in the local economy where its skills and training provision will be focused in keeping with the aims of the EconomicStrategy. These align closely with the Smart Specialisation key sectors on which theERDF Programme will focus.
The main companies that fall within the five identified Smart Specialisation key sectors also fall within DEL’s identified priority economic sectors and DEL will target funding on these sectors through apprenticeship training. DEL will work with DETI to meet the future skills needs of the emerging sectors – the creative industries and renewable energy. In this way the ESF and ERDF programmes complement one another in promoting sectors that are of major importance in rebuilding and rebalancing the Northern Ireland economy.
ERASMUS+Erasmus+ is a competitive EU funding programme for education, training, youth and sport, which will run from 2014 – 2020. It replaces the current education, training, youth and sport programmes - the Lifelong Learning Programme, Youth in Action and other international programmes, including Jean Monnet and Erasmus Mundus - and brings them all together in one programme.
Higher Education mobility between Programme and Partner countries is a part of the Erasmus+ programme. Opportunities for student and academic mobility would fall under Key Action 1 (Learning Mobility of Individuals) which is the largest action in Erasmus+, with 63% of programme budget supporting its focus on increasing mobility and skills.All Higher Education Institutions and Further Education Colleges in Northern Ireland have been awarded the new Erasmus Charter for Higher Education (ECHE) which is necessary to be eligible for funding in the new programme.
With regard to the establishment of the new apprenticeship model in Northern Ireland, DEL will put in place measures to fully utilise opportunities for international placement and exchanges for apprentices by establishing links with partner countries across Europe, and beyond through the use of EU programmes, such as Erasmus+ and consider incentives for participating employers.
The Managing Authority will work closely with the UK National Agencies for the programme to stimulate links and maximise opportunities for mobility in relation to ESF funded activity, thereby building on the links developed during the 2007-2013 programming period.
European Investment Bank (EIB)As the use of financial instruments is not envisaged in the delivery of the ESFprogramme in Northern Ireland, the EIB will not be utilised.
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9.1 Ex-ante conditionalities
Information on the assessment of the applicability and the fulfilment of ex-ante conditionalities (optional).
Each of the general Ex-ante conditionalities has been fulfilled at national level, as detailed within the Partnership Agreement.
The three thematic Ex-ante conditionalities set out in Annex XI of the Common Provisions Regulation applicable to the Northern Ireland ESF Operational Programme are:
• Priority Axis 1 - Access to Employment• Priority Axis 2 - Social Inclusion• Priority Axis 3 - Skills for Growth
Northern Ireland will not be administering funds under the Youth Employment Initiative.
Table 24: Applicable ex-ante conditionalities and assessment of their fulfilment
Ex-ante conditionality Priority axes to which conditionality applies Ex-ante conditionality fulfilled (Yes/No/Partially)
T.08.1 - Active labour market policies are designed and delivered in the light of the Employment guidelines.
1 - Access to Employment Yes
T.09.1 - The existence and the implementation of a national strategic policy framework for poverty reduction aiming at the active inclusion of people excluded from the labour market in the light of the Employment guidelines.
2 - Social Inclusion Yes
T.10.4 - The existence of a national or regional strategic policy framework for increasing the quality and efficiency of VET systems within the limits of Article 165 TFEU.
3 - Skills for Growth Yes
9. Ex-Ante Conditionalities
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Ex-
ante
co
ndit
iona
lity
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
(Y
es/N
o)
Ref
eren
ceE
xpla
nati
ons
T.08
.1 -
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ive
labo
ur m
arke
t pol
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e de
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eliv
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e lig
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mpl
oym
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uide
lines
.
1 -
Em
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t ser
vice
s ha
ve th
e ca
paci
ty
to, a
nd d
o, d
eliv
er: p
erso
nalis
ed s
ervi
ces
and
activ
e an
d pr
even
tive
labo
ur m
arke
t mea
sure
s at
an
early
sta
ge, w
hich
are
ope
n to
all
jobs
eeke
rs w
hile
focu
sing
on
peop
le a
t hig
hest
ris
k of
soc
ial e
xclu
sion
, inc
ludi
ng p
eopl
e fro
m
mar
gina
lised
com
mun
ities
;
Yes
Em
ploy
men
t Ser
vice
Adv
iser
s de
liver
a ta
ilore
d cl
ient
-foc
used
ser
vice
w
hich
incl
udes
wor
k re
adin
ess
asse
ssm
ents
, job
pre
para
tion
and
sear
ch a
ctiv
ities
. Adv
iser
s al
so re
fer c
lient
s to
spe
cial
ist p
rovi
sion
w
hen
appr
opria
te.
The
rece
ntly
dev
elop
ed Y
outh
Em
ploy
men
t Sch
eme
(YE
S),
spec
ifica
lly
targ
ets
the
18 -
24
year
old
age
gro
up.
Ste
ps to
Wor
k is
the
mai
n A
dult
retu
rn to
wor
k pr
ogra
mm
e w
ith
spec
ific
stra
nds
for
18-2
4 yr
old
s an
d 50
yea
r old
s an
d ov
er.
T.08
.1 -
Act
ive
labo
ur m
arke
t pol
icie
s ar
e de
sign
ed a
nd d
eliv
ered
in th
e lig
ht o
f the
E
mpl
oym
ent g
uide
lines
.
2 -
Em
ploy
men
t ser
vice
s ha
ve th
e ca
paci
ty to
, an
d do
, del
iver
: com
preh
ensi
ve a
nd tr
ansp
aren
t in
form
atio
n on
new
job
vaca
ncie
s an
dem
ploy
men
t opp
ortu
nitie
s ta
king
into
acc
ount
th
e ch
angi
ng n
eeds
of t
he la
bour
mar
ket.
Yes
In a
dditi
on to
the
pers
onal
ser
vice
pro
vide
d, K
iosk
s ar
e av
aila
ble
in a
ll of
fices
whi
ch p
rovi
de u
p to
dat
e in
form
atio
n on
job
oppo
rtun
ities
in
NI a
nd th
roug
hout
Eur
ope
and
Em
ploy
men
t Ser
vice
sta
ff re
view
job
sear
ch a
ctiv
ity w
ith c
lient
s ev
ery
two
wee
ks.
T.08
.1 -
Act
ive
labo
ur m
arke
t pol
icie
s ar
e de
sign
ed a
nd d
eliv
ered
in th
e lig
ht o
f the
E
mpl
oym
ent g
uide
lines
.
3 -
Em
ploy
men
t ser
vice
s ha
ve s
et u
p fo
rmal
or
info
rmal
coo
pera
tion
arra
ngem
ents
with
re
leva
nt s
take
hold
ers.
Yes
Add
ition
al in
form
atio
n on
DE
L’s
Ser
vice
s, c
over
ing
all o
f the
“de
taile
d re
quire
men
ts”
liste
d ca
n be
acc
esse
d vi
a th
e fo
llow
ing
link.
ww
w.d
elni
.gov
.uk/
inde
x/fi
ndin
g-em
ploy
men
t-fin
ding
- st
aff.
T.09
.1 -
The
exi
sten
ce a
nd th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of a
nat
iona
l str
ateg
ic p
olic
y fra
mew
ork
for
pove
rty
redu
ctio
n ai
min
g at
the
activ
e in
clus
ion
of p
eopl
e ex
clud
ed fr
om th
e la
bour
mar
ket i
n th
e lig
ht o
f the
Em
ploy
men
t gu
idel
ines
.
1 -
A n
atio
nal s
trat
egic
pol
icy
fram
ewor
k fo
r po
vert
y re
duct
ion,
aim
ing
at a
ctiv
e in
clus
ion,
is
in p
lace
that
:
Yes
The
Del
iver
ing
Soc
ial C
hang
e fra
mew
ork
(201
2) w
as s
et u
p by
the
NI E
xecu
tive
to ta
ckle
pov
erty
and
soc
ial e
xclu
sion
. It s
eeks
to c
o-or
dina
te k
ey a
ctio
ns a
cros
s G
over
nmen
t to
take
forw
ard
wor
k on
pr
iorit
y so
cial
pol
icy
area
s. It
aim
s to
del
iver
a s
usta
ined
redu
ctio
n in
pov
erty
and
ass
ocia
ted
issu
es a
cros
s al
l age
s an
d to
sec
ure
an
impr
ovem
ent i
n ch
ildre
n an
d yo
ung
peop
le’s
hea
lth, w
ell b
eing
and
lif
e op
port
uniti
es th
ereb
y br
eaki
ng th
e lo
ng te
rm c
ycle
of m
ulti-
gene
ratio
nal p
robl
ems.
T.09
.1 -
The
exi
sten
ce a
nd th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of a
nat
iona
l str
ateg
ic p
olic
y fra
mew
ork
for
pove
rty
redu
ctio
n ai
min
g at
the
activ
e in
clus
ion
of p
eopl
e ex
clud
ed fr
om th
e la
bour
mar
ket i
n th
e lig
ht o
f the
Em
ploy
men
t gu
idel
ines
.
2 -
prov
ides
a s
uffic
ient
evi
denc
e ba
se to
de
velo
p po
licie
s fo
r po
vert
y re
duct
ion
and
mon
itor d
evel
opm
ents
;
Yes
Full
deta
il of
the
Del
iver
ing
soci
al c
hang
e ag
enda
can
be
acce
ssed
via
th
e fo
llow
ing
link
ww
w.o
fmdf
mni
.gov
.uk/
deliv
erin
g-so
cial
-cha
nge
T.09
.1 -
The
exi
sten
ce a
nd th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of a
nat
iona
l str
ateg
ic p
olic
y fra
mew
ork
for
pove
rty
redu
ctio
n ai
min
g at
the
activ
e in
clus
ion
of p
eopl
e ex
clud
ed fr
om th
e la
bour
mar
ket i
n th
e lig
ht o
f the
Em
ploy
men
t gu
idel
ines
.
3 -
cont
ains
mea
sure
s su
ppor
ting
the
achi
evem
ent o
f the
nat
iona
l pov
erty
and
so
cial
exc
lusi
on ta
rget
(as
defin
ed in
the
Nat
iona
l Ref
orm
Pro
gram
me)
, whi
ch in
clud
es
the
prom
otio
n of
sus
tain
able
and
qua
lity
empl
oym
ent o
ppor
tuni
ties
for
peop
le a
t the
hi
ghes
t ris
k of
soc
ial e
xclu
sion
, inc
ludi
ng p
eopl
e fro
m m
argi
nalis
ed c
omm
uniti
es;
Yes
Full
deta
ils a
vaila
ble
by fo
llow
ing
the
link
ww
w.o
fmdf
mni
.gov
.uk/
deliv
erin
g-so
cial
-cha
nge
Tab
le 2
4: A
pp
licab
le e
x-an
te c
ond
itio
nalit
ies
and
ass
essm
ent
of
thei
r fu
lfilm
ent
118
Tab
le 2
4: A
pp
licab
le e
x-an
te c
ond
itio
nalit
ies
and
ass
essm
ent
of
thei
r fu
lfilm
ent
Ex-
ante
co
ndit
iona
lity
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
(Y
es/N
o)
Ref
eren
ceE
xpla
nati
ons
T.09
.1 -
The
exi
sten
ce a
nd th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of a
nat
iona
l str
ateg
ic p
olic
y fra
mew
ork
for
pove
rty
redu
ctio
n ai
min
g at
the
activ
e in
clus
ion
of p
eopl
e ex
clud
ed
from
the
labo
ur m
arke
t in
the
light
of t
he
Em
ploy
men
t gui
delin
es.
4 -
invo
lves
rele
vant
sta
keho
lder
s in
com
batin
g po
vert
y;Ye
sFu
ll de
tails
ava
ilabl
e by
follo
win
g th
e lin
k w
ww
.ofm
dfm
ni.g
ov.u
k/de
liver
ing-
soci
al-c
hang
e
T.09
.1 -
The
exi
sten
ce a
nd th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of a
nat
iona
l str
ateg
ic p
olic
y fra
mew
ork
for
pove
rty
redu
ctio
n ai
min
g at
the
activ
e in
clus
ion
of p
eopl
e ex
clud
ed
from
the
labo
ur m
arke
t in
the
light
of t
he
Em
ploy
men
t gui
delin
es.
5 -
depe
ndin
g on
the
iden
tified
nee
ds, i
nclu
des
mea
sure
s fo
r th
e sh
ift fr
om in
stitu
tiona
l to
com
mun
ity b
ased
car
e;
Yes
Full
deta
ils a
vaila
ble
by fo
llow
ing
the
link
ww
w.o
fmdf
mni
.gov
.uk/
deliv
erin
g-so
cial
-cha
nge
T.09
.1 -
The
exi
sten
ce a
nd th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of a
nat
iona
l str
ateg
ic p
olic
y fra
mew
ork
for
pove
rty
redu
ctio
n ai
min
g at
the
activ
e in
clus
ion
of p
eopl
e ex
clud
ed
from
the
labo
ur m
arke
t in
the
light
of t
he
Em
ploy
men
t gui
delin
es.
6 -
Upo
n re
ques
t and
whe
re ju
stifi
ed, r
elev
ant
stak
ehol
ders
will
be p
rovi
ded
with
sup
port
fo
r su
bmitt
ing
proj
ect a
pplic
atio
ns a
nd fo
r im
plem
entin
g an
d m
anag
ing
the
sele
cted
pr
ojec
ts.
Yes
Full
deta
ils a
vaila
ble
by fo
llow
ing
the
link
ww
w.o
fmdf
mni
.gov
.uk/
deliv
erin
g-so
cial
-cha
nge
T.10
.4 -
The
exi
sten
ce o
f a n
atio
nal o
r re
gion
al s
trat
egic
pol
icy
fram
ewor
kfo
r in
crea
sing
the
qual
ity a
nd e
ffici
ency
of
VE
T sy
stem
s w
ithin
the
limits
of A
rtic
le 1
65
TFE
U.
1 -
A n
atio
nal o
r re
gion
al s
trat
egic
pol
icy
fram
ewor
k is
in p
lace
for
incr
easi
ng th
e qu
ality
an
d ef
ficie
ncy
of V
ET
syst
ems
with
in th
e lim
its o
f A
rtic
le 1
65 T
FEU
whi
ch in
clud
es m
easu
res
for
the
follo
win
g:
Yes
The
follo
win
g lin
k co
ntai
ns in
form
atio
n on
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
’s
appr
oach
to L
LL a
nd s
kills
dev
elop
men
t rel
evan
t to
econ
omic
nee
d.
http
://w
ww
.del
ni.g
ov.u
k/in
dex/
publ
icat
ions
/pub
s-su
cces
sthr
ough
skills
/ski
lls-s
trat
egy-
ni.h
tm
T.10
.4 -
The
exi
sten
ce o
f a n
atio
nal o
r re
gion
al s
trat
egic
pol
icy
fram
ewor
k fo
r in
crea
sing
the
qual
ity a
nd e
ffici
ency
of V
ET
syst
ems
with
in th
e lim
its o
f Art
icle
165
TF
EU
.
2 -
to im
prov
e th
e la
bour
mar
ket r
elev
ance
of
VE
T sy
stem
s in
clo
se c
oope
ratio
n w
ith re
leva
nt
stak
ehol
ders
incl
udin
g th
roug
h m
echa
nism
s fo
r sk
ills a
ntic
ipat
ion,
ada
ptat
ion
of c
urric
ula
and
the
stre
ngth
enin
g of
wor
k-ba
sed
lear
ning
pro
visi
on in
its
diff
eren
t for
ms;
Yes
The
follo
win
g lin
k co
ntai
ns in
form
atio
n on
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
’s
appr
oach
to L
LL a
nd s
kills
dev
elop
men
t rel
evan
t to
econ
omic
ne
ed.
http
://w
ww
.del
ni.g
ov.u
k/in
dex/
publ
icat
ions
/pub
s-su
cces
sthr
ough
skills
/ski
lls-s
trat
egy-
ni.h
tm D
epar
tmen
t for
E
mpl
oym
ent a
nd L
earn
ing
T.10
.4 -
The
exi
sten
ce o
f a n
atio
nal o
r re
gion
al s
trat
egic
pol
icy
fram
ewor
k fo
r in
crea
sing
the
qual
ity a
nd e
ffici
ency
of V
ET
syst
ems
with
in th
e lim
its o
f Art
icle
165
TF
EU
.
3 -
to in
crea
se th
e qu
ality
and
att
ract
iven
ess
of
VE
T in
clud
ing
thro
ugh
esta
blis
hing
a n
atio
nal
appr
oach
for
qual
ity a
ssur
ance
for
VE
T (fo
r ex
ampl
e in
line
with
the,
Eur
opea
n Q
ualit
y A
ssur
ance
Ref
eren
ce F
ram
ewor
k fo
r Vo
catio
nal
Edu
catio
n an
d Tr
aini
ng) a
nd im
plem
entin
g th
e tr
ansp
aren
cy a
nd re
cogn
ition
tool
s, fo
r ex
ampl
e E
urop
ean
Cre
dit s
yste
m fo
r Vo
catio
nal E
duca
tion
and
Trai
ning
. (E
CV
ET)
.
The
Cou
ncil
for
the
Cur
ricul
um, E
xam
inat
ions
and
Ass
essm
ent
(CC
EA
), on
beh
alf o
f DE
L, is
invo
lved
in th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of
seve
ral o
f the
Eur
opea
n in
itiat
ives
to s
uppo
rt li
felo
ng le
arni
ng
and
mob
ility.
Fur
ther
info
rmat
ion
and
guid
ance
mat
eria
ls o
n th
e in
itiat
ives
can
be fo
und
at th
e fo
llow
ing
link:
ww
w.re
war
ding
lear
ning
.org
119
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
1. A
ntid
iscr
imin
atio
n
The
exis
tenc
e of
adm
inis
trat
ive
capa
city
for
the
impl
emen
tatio
n an
d ap
plic
atio
n of
Uni
onan
tidis
crim
inat
ion
law
and
pol
icy
in th
e fie
ld o
f E
SI F
unds
Yes
Arr
ange
men
ts in
acco
rdan
ce w
ith th
ein
stitu
tiona
l and
lega
lfra
mew
ork
of M
embe
rS
tate
s fo
r th
e in
volv
emen
t of b
odie
sre
spon
sibl
e fo
r th
epr
omot
ion
of e
qual
trea
tmen
t of a
ll pe
rson
sth
roug
hout
the
prep
arat
ion
and
impl
emen
tatio
n of
prog
ram
mes
, inc
ludi
ngth
e pr
ovis
ion
of a
dvic
eon
equ
ality
in E
SI f
und
rela
ted
activ
ities
.
Yes
Det
ails
for
the
UK
Equ
ality
Act
201
0ca
n be
foun
d th
roug
h th
e fo
llow
ing
link:
htt
p://
ww
w.le
gisl
atio
n.go
v.uk
/ukp
ga/2
012/
15/c
onte
nts
http
://w
ww
.equ
ality
hum
anrig
hts.
com
/ex
plai
ns th
e w
ork
of th
e E
HR
C
The
prin
cipl
e of
Equ
ality
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd la
w is
set
out
in S
ectio
n 75
of
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Act
199
8:
http
://w
ww
.legi
slat
ion.
gov.
uk/u
kpga
/199
8/47
/sec
tion/
75
The
legi
slat
ive
fram
ewor
k fo
r al
l equ
aliti
es(A
nti-d
iscr
imin
atio
n, g
ende
r an
d di
sabi
lity)
ar
e co
ntai
ned
in th
e U
K E
qual
ity A
ct 2
010
whi
ch is
app
licab
le in
Gre
at B
ritai
n.
The
Equ
ality
& H
uman
Rig
hts
Com
mis
sion
(EH
RC
) was
form
ed in
200
7 an
d fu
lly
com
plie
s w
ith A
rtic
le 1
3 of
Dire
ctiv
e 20
00/4
3/E
C.
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
has
its
own
legi
slat
ion
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
rtr
aini
ng fo
r st
aff o
f the
auth
oriti
es in
volv
ed in
the
man
agem
ent a
ndco
ntro
l of t
he E
SI F
unds
in th
e fie
lds
of U
nion
antid
iscr
imin
atio
n la
wan
d po
licy.
Yes
NI i
s co
mm
itted
to m
eetin
g th
is o
bjec
tive.
The
prin
cipl
e of
Equ
ality
is a
lread
y em
bedd
ed in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
la
w a
nd p
olic
y. S
ectio
n 75
of t
he N
orth
ern
Irela
nd A
ct 1
998
requ
ires
publ
ic a
utho
ritie
s to
pro
mot
e eq
ualit
y of
opp
ortu
nity
acr
oss
the
full
rang
e of
equ
aliti
es.
This
act
est
ablis
hed
an E
qual
ity C
omm
issi
on fo
r N
orth
ern
Irela
nd. A
ll N
I Dep
artm
ents
are
requ
ired
to p
ublis
h th
eir
Equ
ality
pol
icie
s an
d to
re
port
ann
ually
to th
e E
qual
ity C
omm
issi
on o
n th
eir
impl
emen
tatio
n
Gen
eric
trai
ning
with
in th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd C
ivil
Ser
vice
con
tinue
s to
be
del
iver
ed b
y th
e C
entr
e fo
r A
pplie
d Le
arni
ng (C
AL)
whi
ch o
ffers
a
num
ber
of e
qual
ity-r
elat
ed tr
aini
ng c
ours
es, i
nclu
ding
cou
rses
on:
• D
iver
sity
•
Con
duct
ing
an E
QIA
•
Scr
eeni
ng o
f Pol
icie
s •C
onsu
ltatio
n P
roce
sses
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd
In a
dditi
on to
gen
eric
trai
ning
on
offe
r, C
AL
wor
ks w
ith d
epar
tmen
ts/
busi
ness
are
as w
ithin
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Civ
il S
ervi
ce to
co
ntex
tual
ise
any
aspe
ct o
f Equ
ality
trai
ning
.
All
UK
Man
agin
g A
utho
ritie
s w
ill en
sure
that
arra
ngem
ents
for
trai
ning
for
staf
f of t
heau
thor
ities
invo
lved
in th
e m
anag
emen
t and
cont
rol o
f the
ES
I Fun
ds in
the
field
s of
U
nion
ant
idis
crim
inat
ion
law
and
pol
icy
will
be p
ut in
pla
ce.
120
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
2. G
ende
r
The
exis
tenc
e of
adm
inis
trat
ive
capa
city
for
the
impl
emen
tatio
n an
d ap
plic
atio
n of
Uni
on
gend
er e
qual
ity la
w a
nd p
olic
y in
the
field
of
ES
I Fun
ds
Yes
Arr
ange
men
ts in
ac
cord
ance
with
th
e in
stitu
tiona
l and
le
gal f
ram
ewor
k of
M
embe
r S
tate
s fo
r th
e in
volv
emen
t of b
odie
s re
spon
sibl
e fo
r ge
nder
eq
ualit
y th
roug
hout
th
e pr
epar
atio
n an
d im
plem
enta
tion
of
prog
ram
mes
, inc
ludi
ng
the
prov
isio
n of
adv
ice
on g
ende
r eq
ualit
y in
ES
I Fun
d-re
late
d ac
tiviti
es
Yes
Det
ails
for
the
UK
Equ
ality
Act
201
0 ca
n be
foun
d th
roug
h th
e fo
llow
ing
link:
htt
p://
ww
w.le
gisl
atio
n.go
v.uk
/ukp
ga/2
012/
15/c
onte
nts
http
://w
ww
.equ
ality
hum
anrig
hts.
com
/ ex
plai
ns th
e w
ork
of th
e E
HR
C
The
prin
cipl
e of
Equ
ality
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd la
w is
set
out
in S
ectio
n 75
of t
he N
orth
ern
Irela
nd A
ct 1
998:
http
://w
ww
.legi
slat
ion.
gov.
uk/u
kpga
/199
8/47
/sec
tion/
75
The
legi
slat
ive
fram
ewor
k fo
r al
l equ
aliti
es(a
nti-d
iscr
imin
atio
n, g
ende
r an
d di
sabi
lity)
ar
e co
ntai
ned
in th
e E
qual
ity A
ct 2
010
whi
ch is
app
licab
le a
cros
s th
e U
K.
The
Equ
ality
& H
uman
Rig
hts
Com
mis
sion
(EH
RC
) was
form
ed in
200
7 an
d fu
lly
com
plie
s w
ith A
rtic
le 1
3 of
Dire
ctiv
e 20
00/4
3/E
C.
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
has
its
own
legi
slat
ion
– A
rran
gem
ents
for
trai
ning
for
staf
f of t
he
auth
oriti
es in
volv
ed in
th
e m
anag
emen
t and
co
ntro
l of t
he E
SI F
unds
in th
e fie
lds
of U
nion
ge
nder
equ
ality
law
and
po
licy
as w
ell a
s on
ge
nder
mai
nstr
eam
ing.
Yes
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
is c
omm
itted
to m
eetin
g th
is o
bjec
tive.
The
prin
cipl
e of
Equ
ality
is a
lread
y em
bedd
ed in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
la
w a
nd p
olic
y. S
ectio
n 75
of t
he N
orth
ern
Irela
nd A
ct 1
998
requ
ires
publ
ic a
utho
ritie
s to
pro
mot
e eq
ualit
y of
opp
ortu
nity
acr
oss
the
full
rang
e of
equ
aliti
es.
This
act
est
ablis
hed
an E
qual
ity C
omm
issi
on fo
r N
orth
ern
Irela
nd. A
ll N
I Dep
artm
ents
are
requ
ired
to p
ublis
h th
eir
Equ
ality
pol
icie
s an
d to
re
port
ann
ually
to th
e E
qual
ity C
omm
issi
on o
n th
eir
impl
emen
tatio
n
Gen
eric
trai
ning
with
in th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd C
ivil
Ser
vice
con
tinue
s to
be
del
iver
ed b
y th
e C
entr
e fo
r A
pplie
d Le
arni
ng (C
AL)
whi
ch o
ffers
a
num
ber
of e
qual
ity-r
elat
ed tr
aini
ng c
ours
es, i
nclu
ding
cou
rses
on:
• D
iver
sity
•
Con
duct
ing
an E
QIA
•
Scr
eeni
ng o
f Pol
icie
s •C
onsu
ltatio
n P
roce
sses
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd
In a
dditi
on to
gen
eric
trai
ning
on
offe
r, C
AL
wor
ks w
ith d
epar
tmen
ts/
busi
ness
are
as w
ithin
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Civ
il S
ervi
ce to
co
ntex
tual
ise
any
aspe
ct o
f Equ
ality
trai
ning
.
All
UK
Man
agin
g A
utho
ritie
s w
ill en
sure
that
arra
ngem
ents
for
trai
ning
for
staf
f of t
he
auth
oriti
es in
volv
ed in
the
man
agem
ent
and
cont
rol o
f the
ES
I Fun
ds in
the
field
s of
Uni
on g
ende
r eq
ualit
y la
w a
nd p
olic
y as
w
ell a
s on
gen
der
mai
nstr
eam
ing
will
be p
ut
in p
lace
.
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
121
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
3. D
isab
ility
The
exi
sten
ce o
f ad
min
istr
ativ
e ca
pac
ity
for
the
imp
lem
enta
tio
n an
d a
pp
licat
ion
of
the
UN
Co
nven
tio
n o
n th
e R
ight
s o
f P
erso
ns w
ith
Dis
abili
ties
(UN
CR
PD
) in
the
fiel
d o
f E
SI F
und
s in
acc
ord
ance
wit
h th
e C
oun
cil d
ecis
ion
2010
/48/
EC
F1
Yes
Arr
ange
men
ts in
ac
cord
ance
with
th
e in
stitu
tiona
l and
le
gal f
ram
ewor
k of
M
embe
r S
tate
s fo
r th
e co
nsul
tatio
n an
d in
volv
emen
t of
bodi
es in
cha
rge
of
prot
ectio
n of
rig
hts
of
pers
ons
with
dis
abilit
ies
or re
pres
enta
tive
orga
nisa
tions
of
pers
ons
with
dis
abilit
ies
and
othe
r re
leva
nt
stak
ehol
ders
thro
ugho
ut
the
prep
arat
ion
and
impl
emen
tatio
n of
pr
ogra
mm
es
Yes
Det
ails
for
the
UK
Equ
ality
Act
201
0ca
n be
foun
d th
roug
h th
e fo
llow
ing
link:
htt
p://
ww
w.le
gisl
atio
n.go
v.uk
/ukp
ga/2
012/
15/c
onte
nts
http
://w
ww
.equ
ality
hum
anrig
hts.
com
/ex
plai
ns th
e w
ork
of th
e E
HR
C
The
prin
cipl
e of
Equ
ality
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd la
w is
set
out
in S
ectio
n 75
of t
he N
orth
ern
Irela
nd A
ct 1
998:
http
://w
ww
.legi
slat
ion.
gov.
uk/u
kpga
/199
8/47
/sec
tion/
75
The
legi
slat
ive
fram
ewor
k fo
r al
l equ
aliti
es(a
nti-d
iscr
imin
atio
n, g
ende
r an
d di
sabi
lity)
ar
e co
ntai
ned
in th
e U
K E
qual
ity A
ct 2
010
whi
ch is
app
licab
le a
cros
s th
e U
K.
The
Equ
ality
& H
uman
Rig
hts
Com
mis
sion
(EH
RC
) was
form
ed in
200
7 an
d fu
lly
com
plie
s w
ith A
rtic
le 1
3 of
Dire
ctiv
e 20
00/4
3/E
C.
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
has
its
own
legi
slat
ion
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r tr
aini
ng fo
r st
aff o
f the
au
thor
ities
invo
lved
in
the
man
agem
ent
and
cont
rol o
f the
ES
I Fu
nds
in th
e fie
lds
of
appl
icab
le U
nion
and
na
tiona
l dis
abilit
y la
w
and
polic
y, in
clud
ing
acce
ssib
ility
and
the
prac
tical
app
licat
ion
of th
e U
NC
RP
D a
s re
flect
ed in
EU
and
na
tiona
l leg
isla
tion,
as
appr
opria
te
Yes
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
is c
omm
itted
to m
eetin
g th
is o
bjec
tive.
The
prin
cipl
e of
Equ
ality
is a
lread
y em
bedd
ed in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
la
w a
nd p
olic
y. S
ectio
n 75
of t
he N
orth
ern
Irela
nd A
ct 1
998
requ
ires
publ
ic a
utho
ritie
s to
pro
mot
e eq
ualit
y of
opp
ortu
nity
acr
oss
the
full
rang
e of
equ
aliti
es.
This
act
est
ablis
hed
an E
qual
ity C
omm
issi
on fo
r N
orth
ern
Irela
nd. A
ll N
I Dep
artm
ents
are
requ
ired
to p
ublis
h th
eir
Equ
ality
pol
icie
s an
d to
re
port
ann
ually
to th
e E
qual
ity C
omm
issi
on o
n th
eir
impl
emen
tatio
n
Gen
eric
trai
ning
with
in th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd C
ivil
Ser
vice
con
tinue
s to
be
del
iver
ed b
y th
e C
entr
e fo
r A
pplie
d Le
arni
ng (C
AL)
whi
ch o
ffers
a
num
ber
of e
qual
ity-r
elat
ed tr
aini
ng c
ours
es, i
nclu
ding
cou
rses
on:
• D
iver
sity
•
Con
duct
ing
an E
QIA
•
Scr
eeni
ng o
f Pol
icie
s •
Con
sulta
tion
Pro
cess
es in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
In a
dditi
on to
gen
eric
trai
ning
on
offe
r, C
AL
wor
ks w
ith d
epar
tmen
ts/
busi
ness
are
as w
ithin
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Civ
il S
ervi
ce to
co
ntex
tual
ise
any
aspe
ct o
f Equ
ality
trai
ning
.
The
legi
slat
ive
fram
ewor
k fo
r al
l equ
aliti
es(a
nti-d
iscr
imin
atio
n, g
ende
r an
d di
sabi
lity)
ar
e co
ntai
ned
in th
e U
K E
qual
ity A
ct 2
010
whi
ch is
app
licab
le in
Gre
at B
ritai
n.
The
Equ
ality
& H
uman
Rig
hts
Com
mis
sion
(EH
RC
) was
form
ed in
200
7 an
d fu
lly
com
plie
s w
ith A
rtic
le 1
3 of
Dire
ctiv
e 20
00/4
3/E
C.
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
has
its
own
legi
slat
ion
http
s://
ww
w.g
ov.u
k/go
vern
men
t/po
licie
s/cr
eatin
g-a-
faire
r-an
d-m
ore-
equa
l-soc
iety
/su
ppor
ting-
page
s/un
ited-
natio
ns-
conv
entio
n-on
-the
-rig
hts-
of-d
isab
led-
peop
le
- D
etai
ls th
e U
N C
onve
ntio
n of
Rig
hts
of
Per
sons
with
Dis
abilit
ies
and
othe
r O
ffice
for
Dis
abilit
ies
Issu
es (O
DI)
guid
ance
.
DW
P a
re re
spon
sibl
e fo
r co
llatin
g an
d pr
ovid
ing
cont
ribut
ions
for
incl
usio
n w
ith
the
UK
Gov
ernm
ent r
epor
ts to
all
UN
C
onve
ntio
ns a
nd C
oven
ants
.
25
Cou
ncil
Dec
isio
n of
26
Nov
embe
r 20
09 c
once
rnin
g th
e co
nclu
sion
, by
the
Eur
opea
n C
omm
unity
, of t
he U
nite
d N
atio
ns C
onve
ntio
n on
the
Rig
hts
of P
erso
ns w
ith D
isab
ilitie
s, (O
J L
23, 2
7.1.
2010
, p. 3
5).
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
122
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
Arr
ange
men
ts to
en
sure
mon
itorin
g of
th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of
Art
icle
9 o
f the
UN
CR
PD
in
rela
tion
to th
e E
SI
Fund
s th
roug
hout
the
prep
arat
ion
and
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
prog
ram
mes
.
Yes
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
is c
omm
itted
to m
eetin
g th
is o
bjec
tive.
http
://w
ww
.equ
ality
ni.o
rg/E
CN
I/med
ia/E
CN
I/Pub
licat
ions
/D
eliv
erin
g%20
Equ
ality
/IMN
I_C
RP
D_P
aral
lelJ
uris
dict
iona
lRep
ort_
Wor
king
Pap
er_v
1_08
0714
-
A w
orki
ng p
aper
has
bee
n dr
afte
d jo
intly
by
The
Equ
ality
C
omm
issi
on fo
r N
orth
ern
Irela
nd a
nd th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd H
uman
R
ight
s C
omm
issi
on in
furt
hera
nce
of th
eir
role
as
the
“Ind
epen
dent
M
echa
nism
” in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
to p
rom
ote,
pro
tect
and
mon
itor
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
Uni
ted
Nat
ions
Con
vent
ion
on th
e R
ight
s of
P
erso
ns w
ith D
isab
ilitie
s (U
NC
RP
D).
Gen
eric
trai
ning
with
in th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd C
ivil
Ser
vice
con
tinue
s to
be
del
iver
ed b
y th
e C
entr
e fo
r A
pplie
d Le
arni
ng (C
AL)
whi
ch o
ffers
a
num
ber
of e
qual
ity-r
elat
ed tr
aini
ng c
ours
es, i
nclu
ding
cou
rses
on:
• D
iver
sity
•
Con
duct
ing
an E
QIA
•
Scr
eeni
ng o
f Pol
icie
s •
Con
sulta
tion
Pro
cess
es in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
In a
dditi
on to
gen
eric
trai
ning
on
offe
r, C
AL
wor
ks w
ith d
epar
tmen
ts/
busi
ness
are
as w
ithin
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Civ
il S
ervi
ce to
co
ntex
tual
ise
any
aspe
ct o
f Equ
ality
trai
ning
.
http
s://
ww
w.g
ov.u
k/go
vern
men
t/up
load
s/sy
stem
/upl
oads
/att
achm
ent_
data
/fil
e/34
5120
/uk-
initi
al-r
epor
t.pdf
- D
etai
ls th
e U
N C
onve
ntio
n of
Rig
hts
of P
erso
ns w
ith
Dis
abilit
ies
and
othe
r O
ffice
for
Dis
abilit
ies
Issu
es (O
DI)
guid
ance
.
DW
P a
re re
spon
sibl
e fo
r co
llatin
g an
d pr
ovid
ing
cont
ribut
ions
for
incl
usio
n w
ith
the
UK
Gov
ernm
ent r
epor
ts to
all
UN
C
onve
ntio
ns a
nd C
oven
ants
.
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
123
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
4. P
ublic
Pro
cure
men
t
The
exi
sten
ce o
f ar
rang
emen
ts f
or
the
effe
ctiv
e ap
plic
atio
n o
f E
U p
ublic
p
rocu
rem
ent
law
in t
he fi
eld
of
the
CS
F Fu
nds.
Yes
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r th
e ef
fect
ive
appl
icat
ion
of E
U p
ublic
pr
ocur
emen
t rul
es
thro
ugh
appr
opria
te
mec
hani
sms;
Arr
ange
men
ts w
hich
en
sure
tran
spar
ent
cont
ract
aw
ard
proc
edur
es;
Arr
ange
men
ts
for
trai
ning
and
di
ssem
inat
ion
of
info
rmat
ion
for
staf
f inv
olve
d in
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
ES
I fun
ds
Arr
ange
men
ts to
ens
ure
adm
inis
trat
ive
capa
city
fo
r im
plem
enta
tion
and
appl
icat
ion
of U
nion
pu
blic
pro
cure
men
t ru
les
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Pub
lic p
rocu
rem
ent p
olic
y in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
is s
et b
y th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd E
xecu
tive.
The
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Pub
lic P
rocu
rem
ent P
olic
y (N
I PP
P) s
ets
out t
he p
olic
ies
adop
ted
by th
e E
xecu
tive
and
the
orga
nisa
tiona
l str
uctu
res
that
hav
e be
en e
stab
lishe
d to
impl
emen
t th
em.
The
Pro
cure
men
t Boa
rd re
port
s to
the
Exe
cutiv
e an
d is
acc
ount
able
to
the
NI A
ssem
bly.
The
Boa
rd o
vers
ees
the
deve
lopm
ent a
nd
impl
emen
tatio
n of
ove
rarc
hing
pol
icy
and
is s
uppo
rted
in th
is a
ctiv
ity
by th
e C
entr
al P
rocu
rem
ent D
irect
orat
e
(CP
D) a
nd th
e ot
her
Cen
tres
of P
rocu
rem
ent E
xper
tise
(CoP
Es)
.
Pro
cure
men
t Gui
danc
e N
otes
(PG
Ns)
are
the
adm
inis
trat
ive
mea
ns
by w
hich
the
NI P
ublic
Sec
tor
is a
dvis
ed o
f pro
cure
men
t pol
icy
and
best
pra
ctic
e de
velo
pmen
ts.
Bod
ies
subj
ect t
o N
I PP
P a
re re
quire
d to
follo
w th
e be
st p
ract
ice
set o
ut in
the
PG
Ns.
The
y m
ust a
lso
cond
uct t
heir
proc
urem
ent v
ia
Ser
vice
Lev
el A
gree
men
ts (S
LAs)
with
the
rele
vant
CoP
E.
CoP
Es
unde
rgo
perio
dic
accr
edita
tion
to e
nsur
e th
ey a
re a
pply
ing
good
pra
ctic
e pr
ocur
emen
t in
supp
ort o
f the
NI E
xecu
tive’
s ke
y pr
iorit
ies.
The
last
acc
redi
tatio
n to
ok p
lace
in 2
013
The
Hea
d of
Pro
cure
men
t for
eac
h C
oPE
is re
spon
sibl
e fo
r en
surin
g th
at th
e or
gani
satio
n’s
gove
rnan
ce a
rran
gem
ents
com
ply
with
NI
PP
P, le
gisl
atio
n an
d be
st p
ract
ice
guid
ance
(PG
Ns)
. Thi
s w
ill be
asse
ssed
dur
ing
CoP
E re
acre
dita
tion.
The
accr
edita
tion
proc
ess
asse
sses
the
abilit
y of
CoP
Es
to
dem
onst
rate
that
the
proc
urem
ent p
roce
ss is
con
trol
led
by a
nad
equa
te re
sour
ce o
f qua
lified
pro
cure
men
t/co
nstr
uctio
n pr
ofes
sion
als.
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
124
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
4. P
ublic
Pro
cure
men
t
The
exi
sten
ce o
f ar
rang
emen
ts f
or
the
effe
ctiv
e ap
plic
atio
n o
f E
U p
ublic
p
rocu
rem
ent
law
in t
he fi
eld
of
the
CS
F Fu
nds.
Yes
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r th
e ef
fect
ive
appl
icat
ion
of E
U p
ublic
pr
ocur
emen
t rul
es
thro
ugh
appr
opria
te
mec
hani
sms;
Arr
ange
men
ts w
hich
en
sure
tran
spar
ent
cont
ract
aw
ard
proc
edur
es;
Arr
ange
men
ts
for
trai
ning
and
di
ssem
inat
ion
of
info
rmat
ion
for
staf
f inv
olve
d in
the
impl
emen
tatio
n of
the
ES
I fun
ds
Arr
ange
men
ts to
ens
ure
adm
inis
trat
ive
capa
city
fo
r im
plem
enta
tion
and
appl
icat
ion
of U
nion
pu
blic
pro
cure
men
t ru
les
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
Pub
lic p
rocu
rem
ent p
olic
y in
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
is s
et b
y th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd E
xecu
tive.
The
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Pub
lic P
rocu
rem
ent P
olic
y (N
I PP
P) s
ets
out t
he p
olic
ies
adop
ted
by th
e E
xecu
tive
and
the
orga
nisa
tiona
l str
uctu
res
that
hav
e be
en e
stab
lishe
d to
impl
emen
t th
em.
The
Pro
cure
men
t Boa
rd re
port
s to
the
Exe
cutiv
e an
d is
acc
ount
able
to
the
NI A
ssem
bly.
The
Boa
rd o
vers
ees
the
deve
lopm
ent a
nd
impl
emen
tatio
n of
ove
rarc
hing
pol
icy
and
is s
uppo
rted
in th
is a
ctiv
ity
by th
e C
entr
al P
rocu
rem
ent D
irect
orat
e
(CP
D) a
nd th
e ot
her
Cen
tres
of P
rocu
rem
ent E
xper
tise
(CoP
Es)
.
Pro
cure
men
t Gui
danc
e N
otes
(PG
Ns)
are
the
adm
inis
trat
ive
mea
ns
by w
hich
the
NI P
ublic
Sec
tor
is a
dvis
ed o
f pro
cure
men
t pol
icy
and
best
pra
ctic
e de
velo
pmen
ts.
Bod
ies
subj
ect t
o N
I PP
P a
re re
quire
d to
follo
w th
e be
st p
ract
ice
set o
ut in
the
PG
Ns.
The
y m
ust a
lso
cond
uct t
heir
proc
urem
ent v
ia
Ser
vice
Lev
el A
gree
men
ts (S
LAs)
with
the
rele
vant
CoP
E.
CoP
Es
unde
rgo
perio
dic
accr
edita
tion
to e
nsur
e th
ey a
re a
pply
ing
good
pra
ctic
e pr
ocur
emen
t in
supp
ort o
f the
NI E
xecu
tive’
s ke
y pr
iorit
ies.
The
last
acc
redi
tatio
n to
ok p
lace
in 2
013
The
Hea
d of
Pro
cure
men
t for
eac
h C
oPE
is re
spon
sibl
e fo
r en
surin
g th
at th
e or
gani
satio
n’s
gove
rnan
ce a
rran
gem
ents
com
ply
with
NI
PP
P, le
gisl
atio
n an
d be
st p
ract
ice
guid
ance
(PG
Ns)
. Thi
s w
ill be
asse
ssed
dur
ing
CoP
E re
acre
dita
tion.
The
accr
edita
tion
proc
ess
asse
sses
the
abilit
y of
CoP
Es
to
dem
onst
rate
that
the
proc
urem
ent p
roce
ss is
con
trol
led
by a
nad
equa
te re
sour
ce o
f qua
lified
pro
cure
men
t/co
nstr
uctio
n pr
ofes
sion
als.
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
5. S
tate
aid
The
exi
sten
ce o
f ar
rang
emen
ts f
or
the
effe
ctiv
e ap
plic
atio
n o
f U
nio
n st
ate
aid
ru
les
in t
he fi
eld
of
the
ES
I Fun
ds.
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r th
e ef
fect
ive
appl
icat
ion
of
Uni
on s
tate
aid
rul
es;
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r th
e tr
aini
ng a
nd
diss
emin
atio
n of
in
form
atio
n fo
r st
aff i
nvol
ved
in th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of th
e E
SI f
unds
;
Arr
ange
men
ts to
ens
ure
adm
inis
trat
ive
capa
city
fo
r im
plem
enta
tion
and
appl
icat
ion
of U
nion
S
tate
aid
rul
es.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Any
pub
lic s
uppo
rt u
nder
the
Inve
stm
ent f
or G
row
th a
nd J
obs
prog
ram
me
mus
t com
ply
with
the
proc
edur
al a
nd m
ater
ial E
C S
tate
A
id r
ules
app
licab
le a
t the
poi
nt o
f tim
e w
hen
the
publ
ic s
uppo
rt
is g
rant
ed. T
he M
embe
r S
tate
, and
in p
artic
ular
the
Man
agin
g an
d C
ertif
ying
Aut
horit
y, a
re re
spon
sibl
e fo
r en
surin
g co
mpl
ianc
e w
ith S
tate
Aid
rul
es o
f all
Str
uctu
ral F
unds
ope
ratio
ns w
ithin
the
prog
ram
me.
In p
lann
ing
for
and
deve
lopi
ng th
e In
vest
men
t for
Gro
wth
and
Job
s pr
ogra
mm
e, th
e in
term
edia
te b
odie
s w
ill be
resp
onsi
ble
for
ensu
ring
any
Sta
te a
id in
pro
ject
s, p
rogr
amm
es o
r m
easu
res
is id
entifi
ed a
nd,
whe
n pr
esen
t, th
e M
anag
ing
Aut
horit
y w
ill en
sure
the
inte
rmed
iate
bo
dy h
as th
e ne
cess
ary
Com
mis
sion
app
rova
l, ei
ther
by
ensu
ring
that
the
Sta
te a
id c
ompl
ies
fully
with
an
exis
ting
appr
oved
sch
eme
or a
blo
ck e
xem
ptio
n or
by
ensu
ring
the
aid
is s
epar
atel
y no
tified
. Th
is w
ill be
con
firm
ed w
hen
the
proj
ect,
prog
ram
me
or m
easu
re is
ad
opte
d /
desi
gnat
ed in
to th
e pr
ogra
mm
e.
With
in N
orth
ern
Irela
nd, D
ETI
’s E
urop
ean
Sup
port
Uni
t has
re
spon
sibi
lity
for
prov
idin
g ad
vice
and
ass
ista
nce
to s
taff
in th
e M
embe
r S
tate
, Man
agin
g A
utho
rity,
Cer
tifyi
ng A
utho
rity,
Aud
it A
utho
rity
and
inte
rmed
iate
bod
ies
on th
e ‘in
dust
rial’
Sta
te a
id r
ules
. W
hen
nece
ssar
y, D
ETI
’s E
urop
ean
Sup
port
Uni
t will
also
pro
vide
‘one
to
one
’ adv
ice
and
assi
stan
ce to
ens
ure
any
Sta
te a
id is
sues
are
ad
dres
sed.
Bui
ldin
g on
the
expe
rienc
e ga
ined
dur
ing
the
exis
ting
prog
ram
me,
th
e M
embe
r S
tate
will
also
ens
ure
that
all
staf
f in
the
Man
agin
g A
utho
rity,
Cer
tifyi
ng A
utho
rity,
Aud
it A
utho
rity
and
inte
rmed
iate
bo
dies
hav
e a
basi
c un
ders
tand
ing
and
awar
enes
s of
the
Sta
te a
id
rule
s an
d, w
hen
nece
ssar
y, th
at s
taff
are
sign
post
ed to
app
ropr
iate
tr
aini
ng, w
hich
may
be
inte
rnal
or
exte
rnal
, and
info
rmat
ion.
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
125
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
6. E
nvir
onm
enta
l leg
isla
tio
n re
lati
ng t
o
Env
iro
nmen
tal I
mp
act
Ass
essm
ent
(EIA
) an
d S
trat
egic
Env
iro
nmen
tal A
sses
smen
t (S
EA
)
The
exi
sten
ce o
f ar
rang
emen
ts f
or
the
effe
ctiv
e ap
plic
atio
n o
f U
nio
n en
viro
nmen
tal l
egis
lati
on
rela
ted
to
EIA
an
d S
EA
.
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r th
e ef
fect
ive
appl
icat
ion
of
EIA
and
SE
A D
irect
ives
;A
rran
gem
ents
fo
r tr
aini
ng a
nd
diss
emin
atio
n of
in
form
atio
n fo
r st
aff i
nvol
ved
in th
e im
plem
enta
tion
of E
IA
and
SE
A D
irect
ives
; A
rran
gem
ents
to e
nsur
e su
ffici
ent a
dmin
istr
ativ
eca
paci
ty.
Yes
NIE
A w
ebpa
ge p
rovi
des
deta
ils o
f SE
A D
irect
ives
and
ass
ocia
ted
Reg
ulat
ions
, “P
ract
ical
gui
de to
the
SE
A P
roce
ss(O
DP
M
Gui
de),S
ervi
ces
and
Sta
ndar
ds fo
r R
espo
nsib
le A
utho
ritie
s, S
NIF
FER
G
uida
nce.
In a
ccor
danc
e w
ith S
tatu
tory
Rul
e 20
04 N
o 28
, on
the
envi
ronm
enta
l as
sess
men
t of P
lans
and
Pro
gram
mes
R
egul
atio
ns (N
orth
ern
Irela
nd),
a de
term
inat
ion
of w
heth
er th
e N
orth
ern
Irela
nd E
SF
Pro
gram
me
is li
kely
to h
ave
sign
ifica
nt e
nviro
nmen
tal e
ffect
s w
as
cond
ucte
d an
d a
scre
enin
g re
port
was
pa
ssed
for
cons
ulta
tion
to N
orth
ern
Irela
nd’s
des
igna
ted
cons
ulta
tion
body
, th
e D
epar
tmen
t of t
he E
nviro
nmen
t’s
Env
ironm
ent a
nd H
erita
ge S
ervi
ce.
The
Env
ironm
ent a
nd H
erita
ge S
ervi
ce
resp
onde
d an
d ag
reed
with
the
Dep
artm
ent’s
ass
essm
ent t
hat t
he E
SF
Pro
gram
me
shou
ld b
e sc
reen
ed o
ut
as th
ere
are
no s
igni
fican
t effe
cts
on
the
envi
ronm
ent.
A fu
ll en
viro
nmen
tal
asse
ssm
ent w
as n
ot th
eref
ore
requ
ired.
A
cop
y of
the
scre
enin
g de
cisi
on c
an b
e fo
und
on th
e D
epar
tmen
t’s w
ebsi
te.
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
126
Gen
eral
Ap
plic
able
Ex-
ante
Co
ndit
iona
lity
for
whi
ch n
atio
nal
bo
die
s ar
e re
spo
nsib
le
Co
ndit
iona
lity
fulfi
lled
:(Y
es/
No
/P
arti
ally
)
Cri
teri
aC
rite
ria
fulfi
lled
Yes/
no
Ref
eren
ce (i
f fu
lfille
d) (
refe
renc
e to
the
str
ateg
ies,
leg
al
acts
or
oth
er r
elev
ant
do
cum
ents
incl
. ref
eren
ce t
o r
elev
ant
sect
ions
, art
icle
s o
r p
arag
rap
hs, a
cco
mp
anie
d b
y a
web
link
or
oth
er a
cces
s to
the
ful
l tex
t)
Exp
lana
tio
n (w
here
ap
pro
pri
ate)
7. S
tati
stic
al s
yste
ms
and
res
ult
Ind
icat
ors
The
exis
tenc
e of
a s
tatis
tical
bas
is n
eces
sary
to
und
erta
ke e
valu
atio
ns to
ass
ess
the
effe
ctiv
enes
s an
d im
pact
of t
he p
rogr
amm
es.
The
exis
tenc
e of
a s
yste
m o
f res
ult i
ndic
ator
s ne
cess
ary
to s
elec
t act
ions
, whi
ch m
ost
effe
ctiv
ely
cont
ribut
e to
des
ired
resu
lts, t
o m
onito
r pr
ogre
ss to
war
ds re
sults
and
to
unde
rtak
e im
pact
eva
luat
ion.
Arr
ange
men
ts fo
r tim
ely
colle
ctio
n an
d ag
greg
atio
n of
sta
tistic
al
data
with
the
follo
win
gel
emen
ts is
in p
lace
:
– th
e id
entifi
catio
n of
sou
rces
and
m
echa
nism
s to
ens
ure
stat
istic
al v
alid
atio
n;
– ar
rang
emen
ts
for
publ
icat
ion
and
publ
ic a
vaila
bilit
y of
ag
greg
ated
dat
a;
an e
ffect
ive
syst
em
of re
sult
indi
cato
rs
incl
udin
g: –
the
sele
ctio
n of
resu
lt in
dica
tors
fo
r ea
ch p
rogr
amm
e pr
ovid
ing
info
rmat
ion
on w
hat m
otiv
ates
th
e se
lect
ion
of p
olic
y ac
tions
Fin
ance
d by
th
e pr
ogra
mm
e; –
the
esta
blis
hmen
t of t
arge
ts
for
thes
e in
dica
tors
; –
the
resp
ect f
or e
ach
indi
cato
r of
the
follo
win
g re
quis
ites:
robu
stne
ss
and
stat
istic
al v
alid
atio
n,
clar
ity o
f nor
mat
ive
inte
rpre
tatio
n,
resp
onsi
vene
ss to
po
licy,
tim
ely
colle
ctio
n of
dat
a; –
pro
cedu
res
in
plac
e to
ens
ure
that
all
oper
atio
ns fi
nanc
ed b
y th
e pr
ogra
mm
e ad
opt
an e
ffect
ive
syst
em o
f in
dica
tors
.
Yes
Yes
Yes
Yes
The
iden
tifica
tion
and
sele
ctio
n of
app
ropr
iate
indi
cato
rs, i
nclu
ding
th
e st
atis
tical
bas
is fo
r pr
ogra
mm
e m
onito
ring
and
eval
uatio
n, is
a
key
com
pone
nt in
the
deve
lopm
ent a
nd d
rafti
ng o
f the
201
4-20
20
Pro
gram
me,
as
wel
l as
in th
e E
x-A
nte
Eva
luat
ion
of th
e pr
opos
ed
prog
ram
me.
The
regi
on h
as a
str
ong
stat
istic
al s
yste
m b
ased
on
both
sam
ple
surv
eys
and
adm
inis
trat
ive
data
. Key
sta
tistic
s th
at m
ay b
e re
leva
nt
to th
e m
onito
ring
and
eval
uatio
n of
thes
e pr
ogra
mm
es a
re ro
utin
ely
prov
ided
by
the
Nor
ther
n Ire
land
Sta
tistic
s an
d R
esea
rch
Age
ncy
and,
as
appr
opria
te, a
re s
ubm
itted
to th
e N
atio
nal S
tatis
tics
Inst
itute
(th
e U
K O
ffice
for
Nat
iona
l Sta
tistic
s) a
nd o
nwar
ds to
Eur
osta
t. w
ww
.nis
ra.g
ov.u
k
The
Pro
gram
me
cont
ains
a s
yste
m o
f ind
icat
ors
and
targ
ets
base
d on
sta
tistic
al d
ata
prod
uced
in c
onsu
ltatio
n w
ith re
leva
nt b
usin
ess
area
s w
ithin
the
depa
rtm
ent a
nd N
ISR
A.
A s
yste
m is
in p
lace
to e
nsur
e tim
ely
colle
ctio
n of
dat
a fro
m p
roje
ct
prov
ider
s an
d w
ill be
repo
rted
ann
ually
.
An
enha
nced
dat
a co
llect
ion
syst
em is
cur
rent
ly u
nder
dev
elop
men
t an
d w
ill be
in u
se d
urin
g 20
15. T
he n
ew E
U d
atab
ase
will
enab
le
the
colle
ctio
n, s
tora
ge a
nd u
se o
f ind
ivid
ual m
icro
dat
a fo
r ea
ch
part
icip
ant.
This
will
ensu
re c
onfo
rmity
with
art
icle
125
(2),
of th
e C
omm
on P
rovi
sion
s R
egul
atio
n an
d th
e gu
idan
ce fo
r E
SF
mon
itorin
g an
d ev
alua
tion.
Am
endm
ents
hav
e be
en m
ade
to th
e P
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
follo
win
g ad
vice
from
NIS
RA
and
the
Com
mis
ion
obse
rvat
ions
.
Gen
eral
Co
ndit
iona
litie
s 1-
7
127
Table 26: Actions to fulfil applicable thematic ex-ante conditionalities (as above)
None (Conditionalities fulfilled).
9.2 Description of actions to fulfil ex-ante conditionalities (as above)
Table 25: Actions to fulfil applicable general ex-ante conditionalities (as above)
None (Conditionalities fulfilled).
128
130
Summary of the assessment of the administrative burden for beneficiaries and, where necessary, the actions planned, accompanied by an indicative timeframe to reduce administrative burden.
The objective of the Northern Ireland Authorities is, where possible, to reduce the administrative burden associated with receiving ESF funding. Whilst the ESF Promoters’ Operating Manual provides general guidance on how to manage ESF Funds, there are 3 main contributing factors which will reduce this burden.
IT System
The administration burden of the 2007 – 13 Programmes was greatly reduced by the introduction of Systems 2007, a computer system designed to underpin the management of all European Union funding programmes in Northern Ireland for the period 2007-2013. Systems 2007 enabled beneficiaries to register an application for a Structural Fund grant and use the system to create and submit claims for payment direct to the ESF Managing Authority via a public website. This on line claims process enabled the designated Project Officer to conduct an earlier verification visit which in turn resulted in a more streamlined, efficient and rapid payment method which expedited actual payment to the beneficiary. The Systems 2007 model also supported all aspects of the information process and allowed for the Managing Authority to input all associated data.
The European Division (EUD) of the Department of Finance and Personnel (DFP) currently co-ordinates the management of all European Union Structural Funds programmes in Northern Ireland. EUD intends to build upon and further enhance the computer system mechanisms in place to provide a common management and control framework for the new European Union funding programmes in Northern Ireland 2014-2020. While Northern Ireland has made progress towards electronic data exchange, communication with beneficiaries is still mainly paper based.
The introduction of a new advanced database for the EU funding programmes in Northern Ireland during 2015 will further enhance the application process, with the application in its entirety being made through the system. This will reduce the administration burden for both applicants and the Managing Authority. The new database will also allow for the uploading of additional documents required at the application stage and throughout the programme, reducing paperwork further.
In addition, the new EU database will enable the collection, storage and use of individual micro data for each participant. This will ensure conformity with article 125(2), of the Common Provisions Regulation and the guidance for ESF monitoring and evaluation.
E-cohesion is a requirement introduced by Article 112(3) of the draft Common Provisions Regulation (CPR), according to which all Member States and programmes need to establish, by the end of 2014, an electronic data exchange system which will provide
10. Reduction of Administrative Burden for Beneficiaries
131
a synchronised approach. Such a system will allow beneficiaries to communicate with programme authorities only electronically. It is hoped that, through e-cohesion, the new database will be able to “communicate” with other IT systems in operation, allowing for further reductions in paperwork and a reduction in duplication of work.
Simplification
Indirect costs on a flat rate basis of 20% were introduced by the ESF Managing Authority in 2013 to simplify ESF arrangements. Previously, apportioned costs for overheads /central services etc. were submitted with each claim and based on actual costs supported by the relevant receipts/invoices for the claims and audit trail processes. Experience from the first 4 years of the 2007 - 2013 ESF programme had shown that the justification of indirect costs constituted a high level of risk and in turn produced a significant increase in audit error rates and a disproportionate administrative burden for the ESF Managing and Audit Authorities and ESF projects. The introduction of the simplification model reduced this burden mainly associated with financial management, control and audit, both for the beneficiaries and ESF Managing and Audit Authorities and contributed to a more efficient and correct use of ESF funding. It also brought a reduction in error rates and enabled ESF financial claims to be processed more efficiently and beneficiaries to manage cash flow better.
The European Commission values the simplification model in the 2014 – 2020Programme as it is needed to ensure the smooth delivery of the cohesion policy and continued interest of beneficiaries. It will have a positive impact on the results of the Programme by ensuring an efficient distribution of administrative efforts required at national, regional and EU levels, cutting the time and costs of reaching the objectives and allowing a greater focus on results. Most of the expenditure supported within an ESF project relates to staff costs, which are at the heart of ESF. As a consequence, Northern Ireland intends to implement the Commission’s proposal for all non government projects by adopting the 40 % flat rate of salary costs only for indirect costs. This rate is established by Council regulation 1304/13 Article 14.2, and therefore does not have to be justified for use by national authorities. Potential non government projects funded under the ESF 2014 – 2020 will not be exposed to financial audits at the same level as under the 2007-13 programme, which will therefore reduce the administrative burden for all associated bodies. This simplification approach also eliminates the ambiguity surrounding the definition of indirect costs and in several cases will bring about a direct reduction in administrative costs.
For government projects28 the simplification costs options cannot be applied as these projects were subject to public procurement - Council regulation 1304/13 Article 67.4 refers. Beneficiaries will be reimbursed eligible costs actually incurred and paid on the project under Article 67.1(a).
28 Relates to all of Priority 3
132
Document Retention
Under the 2007 – 2013 programme beneficiaries had to maintain and keep safely all original records, financial and otherwise. Whilst the European Commission regulations allowed for original documents to be retained electronically by storing them on a recognised data carrier or by microfiche, National Authorities’ legal requirements did not permit this for audit purposes. Beneficiaries had therefore to maintain all original documentation in paper copy.
In the 2014-2020 programming period, it is anticipated that National Authority regulation will be amended to allow harmonisation between European Commission and National Authorities regulations regarding the storage of electronic documents. ESF beneficiaries will benefit from a reduction in administration and cost if this measure is implemented.
134
11.1 Sustainable developmentDescription of specific actions to take into account environmental protection requirements, resource efficiency, climate change mitigation and adaptation, disaster resilience and risk prevention and management, in the selection of operations.
The Northern Ireland ESF Programme will operate within the context of the EU’sSustainable Development Strategy 2006 and the review of that strategy, completed in 2009.
The NI ESF programme will also take into account the commitments contained in”Everyone’s Involved – the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy,” This strategy recognises that ”superior sustainability performance can lead to real economic benefits for everyone and approaches which assess the full value of sustainability are needed for sustainability thinking to be successfully integrated into decision making.” The Northern Ireland ESF Programme will be targeted and implemented in a manner that promotes sustainable development and creates sustainable communities and will observe the six guiding principles of the Northern Ireland Sustainable Development Strategy, which are:
• Living within environment limits
Respecting the limits of the planet’s environment, resources and biodiversity – to improve our environment and ensure that the natural resources needed for life are unimpaired and remain so for future generations.
• Ensuring a strong, healthy and just society
Meeting the diverse needs of all people in existing and future communities, promoting personal well-being, social cohesion and inclusion; and creating equal opportunity for all.
• Achieving a sustainable economy
Building a strong, stable and sustainable economy that provides prosperity and opportunities for all, in which environmental and social costs fall on those who impose them (polluter pays) and efficient resource use is incentivised.
• Promoting good governance
Actively promoting effective, participative systems of governance in all levels of society – engaging people’s creativity, energy and diversity.
• Using sound science responsibly
11. HORIZONTAL PRINCIPLES
135
Ensuring policy is developed and implemented on the basis of strong scientific evidence, whilst taking into account scientific uncertainty as well as public attitudes and values.
• Promoting opportunity and innovation
Innovation is the successful exploitation of new ideas; incorporating new technologies, design and best practice. Opportunities lie in the development of new markets in environmental technologies and other sustainable development related areas/fields.
The Northern Ireland ESF programme will make a particular contribution to the first two priority areas for action within that strategy, which are:
- building a dynamic, innovative economy that delivers the prosperity required to tackle disadvantage and lift communities out of poverty;
- strengthening society so that it is more tolerant, inclusive and stable and permits positive progress in quality of life for everyone.
Sustainable development has been one of the cross cutting themes of the NI ESF Programme 2007-2013, and much progress has been made in terms of activities such as the review of strategic environmental assessments, alignment of programme indicators with UK and wider EU sustainability indicators, and co-ordination of a sustainability survey.
The midterm evaluation of the 2007-2013 programme raised a number of questions in relation to the Developmental Path Analysis (DPA), a tool adopted by the Managing Authorities to monitor environmental impact of the programmes. In particular its findings indicated that further work could be done in the application of Development PathAnalysis (DPA) allocations. One of the many strengths of DPA is that it focuses people to think about transforming the way we behave, it encourages people to do more than meet minimum regulations; it can encourage people to undertake activities that will do more to protect and enhance the environment at the same time as they contribute to economic development and enhancing competitiveness and employment. Work will continue on improving the application of DPA in the new programme.
Strategic Environmental assessment
In accordance with Statutory Rule 2004 No 28, on the environmental assessment of Plans and Programmes Regulations (Northern Ireland), a determination of whether theNorthern Ireland ESF Programme is likely to have significant environmental effects was conducted and a screening report was passed for consultation to Northern Ireland’s designated consultation body, the Department of the Environment’s Environment and Heritage Service.
136
The Environment and Heritage Service responded and agreed with the Department’s assessment that the ESF Programme should be screened out as there are no significant effects on the environment. A full environmental assessment was not therefore required. A copy of the screening decision can be found on the Department’s website.
It should be noted that the result of the assessment of the fulfilment of the general ex-ante conditionality regarding environmental impact assessment (EIA) and strategic environmental assessment(SEA) legislation is without prejudice to the obligation to implement the CJEU judgement of 13 February 2014 (case (C-530/11) Commission v. UK).
11.2 Equal opportunities and non-discriminationDescription of specific actions to promote equal opportunities and prevent discrimination based on sex, racial or ethnic origin, religion or belief, disability, age or sexual orientation during the preparation, design and implementation of the operational programme and in particular in relation to access to funding, taking account of the needs of the various target groups at risk of such discrimination and in particular the requirements for ensuring accessibility for persons with disabilities.
Section 75 Northern Ireland Act 1998
Under Section 75 of the Northern Ireland Act 1998, the Northern Ireland ESF programme and all its activities are required to have due regard to the need to promote equality of opportunity:
• between persons of different religious belief, political opinion, racial group, age, marital status or sexual orientation;
• between men and women generally;• between persons with a disability and persons without; and• between persons with dependants and persons without.
Section 75 is a mainstreaming approach to equality in that it makes equality central to the whole range of public policy making in Northern Ireland. The statutory duties are complementary but additional to other UK and EU equality legislation or directives. Without prejudice to the above obligations, the Northern Ireland ESF Programme is also required to have regard to the desirability of promoting good relations between personsof different religious belief, political opinion or racial group.
The ESF programme has been developed in line with Section 75 requirements. Policies on which the ESF programme is based have been subject to equality impact assessment as a normal part of the policy development process. The programme itself has been screened for equality implications and has been found to be compliant with the requirements of the Section 75 legislation.
137
11.3 Equality between men and women
Description of contribution of the operational programme to the promotion of equality between men and women and, where appropriate, the arrangements to ensure the integration of the gender perspective at operational programme and operation level.
The Northern Ireland ESF programme will operate within the framework of EU and regional legislation on non-discrimination, gender equality and equal opportunities. The programme will be compliant with and supportive of the Women’s Charter (2010) and will contribute to a number of thematic priorities contained in the Strategy for Equality between Men and Women 2010-2015. This strategy builds on the experience of the Roadmap for Equality between Women and Men (2006). Of particular relevance in the new strategy is priority one, equal economic independence. Through the ESF programme we will therefore help and support more women to access the labour market, thereby addressing this important priority.
The Programme will adopt a dual approach to gender equality and promoting equal opportunities. The Programme may fund specific activities which target women and other disadvantaged groups such as people with a disability, lone parents, ex-offenders, and will integrate equal opportunities into every stage of the programme as a whole. Equality considerations will be integrated into:
• the programme design and development (for example, through support with childcare for programme participants);
• promotion of the programme;• the application/procurement process;• monitoring; and• evaluation.
All eligible applicants for support under the Northern Ireland ESF Programme will be afforded equal opportunities to access funding. Where a particular need has been identified, for example, the high percentage of lone parents who are economically inactive, Projects may provide training specifically for the particular target group. Equality of participation in the Programme Monitoring Committee, working groups and selection panels shall be encouraged in accordance with the provisions of the regulations. The implementation and delivery of the ESF Programme will be monitored and reviewed to ensure that the Department for Employment and Learning’s Section 75 duties and commitment to mainstream equality are met. The ESF Programme’s participation or take-up rates will be monitored annually to identify any participation or take-up rates which are lower than expected, and their causes.
138
The Department plans and oversees a rolling programme of evaluations (updated annually) which ensures that labour market programmes and services are evaluated every five years. Equality issues are treated as an integral part of each evaluation. The ESF Programme will be included in the Department’s rolling programme and it will have its own evaluation strategy that will include at least two evaluations during its lifespan. Equal opportunities, non discrimination and equality between men and women will be examined as part of the evaluation work.
The Northern Ireland ESF Programme Monitoring Committee will be invited to establish an Equality Working Group to monitor and advise the Monitoring Committee on equal opportunities and gender equality issues. The Equality Working Group will take into account the work of the Equality Working Group established under the Community Support Framework 2007-2013 and the findings of the mid-term evaluation of that programme.
In addition to the above, the Equality Working Group issued new equality guides for use by groups applying for funding, selection panels which assess project applications and for implementing bodies responsible for distributing EU Structural Funds. These guides will be updated to support delivery of the new programme.
140
12. SEPARATE ELEMENTS
Performance Framework of Operational Programme
Tab
le 2
8: P
erfo
rman
ce fr
amew
ork
by
fund
and
cat
ego
ry o
f re
gio
n (s
umm
ary
tab
le)
Pri
ori
ty a
xis
Fund
Cat
ego
ry
of
reg
ion
Ind
icat
or
or
key
imp
lem
enta
tio
n st
epM
easu
rem
ent
unit
Mile
sto
ne f
or
2018
Fina
l tar
get
(2
023)
Tota
lTo
tal
1 -
Acc
ess
to
Em
ploy
men
tE
SF
Tran
sitio
nun
empl
oyed
, inc
ludi
ng lo
ng-t
erm
une
mpl
oyed
Num
ber
10,5
0028
,000
1 -
Acc
ess
to
Em
ploy
men
tE
SF
Tran
sitio
nin
activ
eN
umbe
r4,
500
12,0
00
1 -
Acc
ess
to
Em
ploy
men
tE
SF
Tran
sitio
nE
xpen
ditu
reE
uros
62,7
06,0
3314
6,31
4,07
7
1 -
Acc
ess
to
Em
ploy
men
tE
SF
Tran
sitio
nP
artic
ipan
ts n
ot in
edu
catio
n, tr
aini
ng o
r em
ploy
men
t age
d 16
-24
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
ipan
ts9,
350
25,0
00
2 -
Soc
ial I
nclu
sion
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
part
icip
ants
with
dis
abilit
ies
Num
ber
4,85
013
,000
2 -
Soc
ial I
nclu
sion
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
Exp
endi
ture
Eur
os66
,006
,350
154,
014,
817
2 -
Soc
ial I
nclu
sion
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
Targ
eted
fam
ilies
Num
ber o
f fa
milie
s1,
550
4,20
0
2 -
Soc
ial I
nclu
sion
ES
FTr
ansi
tion
NE
ET
part
icip
ants
age
d16
+ w
ithin
fam
ilies
rece
ivin
g C
omm
unity
Fam
ily
Sup
port
(CFS
P)
Num
ber o
f pa
rtic
iapn
ts4,
700
12,6
00
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
thE
SF
Tran
sitio
nE
xpen
ditu
reE
uros
88,0
08,4
6720
5,35
3,09
0
3 -
Ski
lls fo
r G
row
thE
SF
Tran
sitio
nE
mpl
oyed
par
ticip
ants
age
d 16
and
ove
r w
orki
ng
tow
ards
an
appr
entic
eshi
pN
umbe
r of
part
icip
ants
15,7
5042
,000
141
Relevant partners involved in preparation of programme
The following is a list of partners involved in the preparation of the Northern Ireland ESF Operational programme.
SECTOR Number of Reps.
ORGANISATION
Local Government
5 Northern Ireland Local Government Association(NILGA)
Environment 1 Council for Nature Conservation and Countryside (CNCC)
Equality 1 Equality Commission
Education 1 Colleges NI
Queens University
1 Queens University
University of Ulster
1 University of Ulster
Voluntary and community
1 Northern Ireland Community and Voluntary Association(NICVA)
Trades Unions
1 Irish Council of Trades Unions (ICTU)
Business 2 Confederation of British Industry(CBI)
Institute of Directors(IOD)
Northern Ireland Chamber of Commerce(NICC)Agri-rural 1 Ulster Farmers Union
Energy 1 Confederation of British Industry(CBI)
142
ESF 2014 - 2020 COMMON INDICATORS FOR PARTICIPANTS
Common Output Indicators
1 2
unemployed, including long-term unemployed long-term unemployed
3 inactive
4 inactive, not in education or training
5 employed, including self-employed
6 below 25 years of age
7 above 54 years of age
8 above 54 years of age who are unemployed, including long-term
unemployed, or inactive not in education or training
9 with primary (ISCED 1) or lower secondary education (ISCED 2)
10 with upper secondary (ISCED 3) or post-secondary education (ISCED 4)
11 with tertiary education (ISCED 5 to 8)
12 participants who live in jobless households
13 participants who live in jobless households with dependent children
14 participants who live in a single adult household with dependent children
15 migrants, participants with a foreign background, minorities (including marginalised communities such as the Roma)
16 participants with disabilities
17 other disadvantaged
18 homeless or affected by housing exclusion
19 from rural areas
Common Immediate Result Indicators
18 19 20
inactive participants engaged in job searching upon leaving participants in education/training upon leaving participants gaining a qualification upon leaving
21 participants in employment, including self-employment, upon leaving
22 disadvantaged participants engaged in job searching, education/ training, gaining a qualification, in employment, including self-employment, upon leaving
Common Long-term Result Indicators
23
24
participants in employment, including self-employment, six months after leaving participants with an improved labour market situation six months after leaving
25 participants above 54 years of age in employment, including self-employment, six months after leaving
26 disadvantaged participants in employment, including self-employment, six months after leaving
List of Common Indicators required for reporting purposes
ESF 2014 - 2020 COMMON INDICATORS FOR ENTITIES
Common Indicators
1 number of projects fully or partially implemented by social partners or non-government organisations
2 number of projects dedicated to sustainable participation and progress of women in employment
3 number of projects targeting public administrations or public services at national, regional or local level
4 number of supported micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (including cooperative enterprises, enterprises of the social economy)
Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020
European Union
Promoting access to employment, social inclusion and skills for growth
Northern Ireland European Social Fund Programme 2014 – 2020
European Union
Promoting access to employment, social inclusion and skills for growth
Further Information: Department for Employment and Learning Adelaide House39-49 Adelaide StreetBelfastBT2 8FDtelephone: 028 9025 7777 e-mail: [email protected] website: www.delni.gov.uk
The Department: Our aim is to promote learning and skills, to prepare people for work and to support the economy.
This document is available in other formats upon request.