European Social Fund (ESF) & Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Overview of the operation of the European Social Fund (ESF) & Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) in Ireland Hugh Geoghegan ESF Managing Authority Department of Education and Skills 25 November 2016

European Structural and Investment Funds - ESIF With a budget of €454 billion for 2014-20, the ESIFs are the EU’s main investment policy tool. They include the -  European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)  European Social Fund (ESF)  Cohesion Fund (CF) (only applicable to MS where GNI per capita is <90% EU average)  European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD)  European Maritime & Fisheries Fund (EMFF) Ireland received €3.357bn in ESIF funding for 2014-2020

ESIF - Principles  To deliver on Europe 2020 strategy for smart, sustainable and inclusive growth, to fund specific missions and to pursue Country Specific Recommendations  Partnership Model - national/local authorities working with social partners and NGOs at all stages - planning, implementing, monitoring and evaluating  Strategic Plans set out in Member State Partnership Agreements and individual Operational Programmes  Horizontal Principles – Gender Equality & Non-Discrimination and Sustainable Development

Europe 2020 Targets and Irish NRP Targets

ESF Objectives  To improve employment opportunities  To promote education and life-long learning  To enhance social inclusion  To combat discrimination and promote equal opportunities  To contribute to combatting poverty  To improve public services

ESF in Ireland  Since 1973 – over €7 billion ESF funding since accession  2007-2013 – Human Capital Investment Operational Programme (HCIOP)  2014-2020 – Programme for Employability, Innovation and Learning (PEIL)  Approved by European Commission in February 2015  Formally launched in April 2015  Total funding of €1.153 billion, with €611 million from the EU (€542 million ESF and €68 million YEI)

Youth Employment Initiative  YEI supports young people aged 15-24 not in employment, education or training (NEETs) and implements the Youth Guarantee (applies in MS where youth unemployment > 25% in 2012)  €3.2 billion YEI funding initially, matched by equal amounts of ESF and national funding.  €204 million for YEI in Ireland  Delivered as an integral part of the PEIL 2014-2020

PEIL 2014-2020  More than 20 individual activities under 5 Priority Axes –  Priority 1: Promoting the attainment of sustainable and quality employment through relevant upskilling measures and supporting labour mobility.  Priority 2: Promoting social inclusion and combating discrimination in the labour market  Priority 3: Investing in education, training and life-long learning with a view to upskilling and re-skilling the labour force  Priority 4: Youth Employment Initiative  Priority 5: Technical Assistance

Priority 1: Promoting the attainment of sustainable and quality employment through relevant upskilling measures and supporting labour mobility.

Priority 2: Promoting social inclusion and combating discrimination in the labour market

Priority 3: Investing in education, training and lifelong learning with a view to upskilling and re-skilling the labour force

Priority 4: Youth Employment Initiative

Priority 5: Technical Assistance • Preparation, implementation, monitoring and inspection • Evaluation and Studies • Information and Communication

Managing Authority  Responsible for the efficient management and implementation of Operational Programmes  Key Functions:  Selecting operations and ensuring proper financial management and expenditure validation  Supporting the work of Intermediate Bodies and Beneficiaries  Information and Communications  Data Collection including establishing an IT system  Evaluation, Reporting and Monitoring

ESF Cascade Structure

Benefits  Funding  Easier to launch activities?  Dedicated funding over a 7-year period  Evidence  Monitoring and reporting based on indicators  Robust evaluations

www.esf.ie