EIST (Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training) Programme
Programme description
Ireland’s national ESF+ Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training programme is opening doors to new qualifications and skills, getting people into jobs and a more inclusive society, with equal opportunities for young people, women and disadvantaged groups.
Fostering Employment
The programme will increase employment opportunities with activation programmes for young people, persons with disabilities, long-term unemployed and women. The aim is to create equal opportunities and help both those who have jobs and the unemployed to progress in their careers and have better employment prospects.
Activities will focus on expanding skills and lifelong learning. Workers may take part in employer-led upskilling or reskilling courses, while those lacking basic skills will have improved access to literacy, numeracy and digital literacy courses. Training will support early childhood education professionals and carers with a view to enhancing their skills and competences thus helping to deliver quality social services. Higher education institutions and schools will receive funding for programmes and projects to create more inclusive learning environments. Further financial support will be provided to disadvantaged students in higher education.
Social Inclusion
Dedicated projects will foster the social inclusion of vulnerable groups – including Roma, Irish Travellers, migrants and single-parent families. Migrants – including people fleeing the Russian aggression in Ukraine – will benefit from a comprehensive employment programme that includes language and social skills training, as well as individual mentoring. Special programmes will address the training and personal/social development needs of early school leavers and at-risk youth. Trainings and services will also be adapted to reach out to more people that can benefit from the programme
The provision of quality social support services and their accessibility, will improve the wellbeing of vulnerable children and families, including young parents and refugees.
Food and material aid will be provided to the most deprived, such as children and families living in poverty, homeless people and victims of domestic violence.
Social Innovation
The ESF+ in Ireland will fund social innovation measures, including the testing of new ideas and policies to promote better social inclusion and support disadvantaged groups such as long-term unemployed individuals or young people living in deprived areas.
Thanks to the funding from the programme,
- More than 20 000 children will benefit from better social services
- More than 90 000 participants will go through upskilling by 2029
- More than 6 000 people with a disability will be supported to find suitable employment
Financial information
Breakdown of finances by priority axis
| Priority Axis | EU Investment | National Public Contribution | Total Public Contribution |
|---|---|---|---|
| ESF+ | 508.380.024,00 | 572.629.972,00 | 1.081.009.996,00 |
| Total | 508.380.024,00 | 572.629.972,00 | 1.081.009.996,00 |
Priorities and Specific Objectives
Social Europe
Access to employment and activation measures for all
Social integration of people at risk
Addressing material deprivation
Quality and inclusive education and training systems
Lifelong learning and career transitions
Active inclusion and employability