Publication
European Social Fund
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform
Published on
Last updated on
The European Social Fund provides €10 billion annually across the European Union. Each country in the European Union avails of this funding to improve job prospects for millions of people and create a more inclusive society. It co-funds local, regional and national employment-related projects throughout the European Union. You can find out more about the European Social Fund on the European Commission’s website.
In partnership with the European Commission, each country in the European Union develops one or more Programmes for ESF co-funding for a seven-year period, currently from 2014-2020.
In Ireland, together with the government, the European Social Fund co-funds the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020. Ireland also receives a special allocation of €68 million from the Youth Employment Initiative.
The Youth Employment Initiative aims to tackle youth unemployment and implement the Youth Guarantee by providing jobs, education and training opportunities for individuals under 25 who are not in Employment, Education or Training.
The key areas chosen for investment under the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 revolve around helping people get back into education, training or work, helping those at risk of being excluded socially or from the job market, and encouraging youth employment and improving access to education.
The Programme will provide €1.157 billion in funding to over 20 national measures.
| European Union funding | €545 million |
| Government of Ireland funding | €545 million |
| Youth Employment Initiative funding | €68 million |
| Total funding | €1.157 billion |
The national measures funded by the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning 2014-2020 are aimed at four distinct investment areas:
The Programme aims to help nearly half a million people over its seven year period and has been developed with key targets to ensure that it is achieving its objectives.
You can find out more about the European Social Fund and the Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning on Ireland’s ESF website.
See below to explore each of the investment areas that are co-funded by the European Social Fund. Each section provides examples of how support from the European Social Fund and other European Structural and Investment Funds are invested.