EU Funds - Social Inclusion
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From: Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
- Published on: 1 January 2020
- Last updated on: 18 November 2024
“Social Inclusion” is one of the investment areas targeted by European funding in Ireland. The goal of this investment is to help people or communities with difficulties participating in society. Two funds support this investment area: the European Social Fund and the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development.
Through the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning, the European Social Fund helps disadvantaged people, who may struggle to participate in society, and those who may find it difficult to prosper in education, get a job, or to connect with their community. The Programme also includes measures to promote equal opportunities and combat discrimination.
The European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development has a dedicated programme, the LEADER Programme, that empowers local community groups to encourage sustainable growth in their local areas.
| Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning | €297.6 million |
| Rural Development Programme | €250 million |
Examples of Social Inclusion Projects
LEADER Programme
European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development
LEADER will give €250m in funding to local community groups between 2014 and 2020, funded under the Rural Development Programme.
The focus of this programme is to empower local communities to select projects that have an impact on their area.
Learn more about LEADER.
Garda Youth Diversion Projects
European Social Fund
This initiative helps young people that are at risk of, or involved in, anti-social or criminal behaviour. It focusses on community-centred projects helping these young people connect with their local areas, enabling them to make positive choices and stop offending.
Young Persons Probation Projects
European Social Fund
Young Persons Probation (YPP) projects provide a range of services to young offenders in local communities, including training and education, mentoring, and offender management programmes. Four YPP projects are supported under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning:
What Young Persons Probation Participants say
“They don’t judge you on where you’ve been, only on where you’re going.”
“Dochas has given me something to do all day and I see how important learning is. I want bigger and better things.”
“I want to get my FETAC level 4 and move on. Dochas will help me achieve my goals.”
“No one would take me. It was my last chance. They didn’t judge my past.”