Clare Dunne 17th December, 2002 ESF in Ireland Clare Dunne 17th December, 2002

Aims of Presentation Basis for Ireland’s HRD Programming 2000-2006; Programming the ESF – the process and the strategy; Some conclusions e.g. the ESF must be programmed in line with the ESF Regulation

ESF Funding levels 1994-1999 = 2 billion Euro 40% of the main HRD-op 2000-2006 = 1.057 million Euro 6% of the main EMP-HRD OP

Labour Market Basis for OP 1994…… 15% unemployment Major structural LTU(9%) High dependency ratios Low female participation rate Relatively poor % educated to advanced levels Emigration GNP per capita 79% EU 1999……. 5.1% unemployment LTU down to 2.1% Rapid Fall in dependency ratios Female employmt. rate now almost at EU levels Above EU av % of students at third level Immigration; labour & skill shortages Now, of course, the situation has changed again, with unemployment rising slightly, although employment is still growing, albeit at a slower rate.

Strategies 1994 prime focus was on correcting major structural problems ; 1994 OP aimed at reducing unemployment , esp LTU and increasing employment 2000 focus more on managing success of economy and anticipating problems also focus on mobilising and training sufficient people to meet requirements as well as seeking to minimize unemployment, incl. LTU

Programming for the ESF in Ireland, 2000-2006 National Development Plan Community Support Framework Operational Programmes Programme Complement Ongoing Monitoring and Financial Control Very participative approach. Strong involvement of the Social Partners and interest groups.

NDP - Programmes Economic and Social Infrastructure Employment and HRD Productive Investment 2 Regional Programmes

For ESF…… 85% of ESF in the EHRD OP 11% in the 2 Regional OP’s 4% in the Peace OP

ESF Programming at National level – elements needed: (EES) National Employment Action Plan National Development Plan New EU Regulations – especially ESF Regulation NAPSincl Ex-ante evaluation

Choosing which measures to co-fund Strong input from Commission ESF Strategy based on the recommendations addressed to Ireland by the Helsinki Summit, December 1999 - in-company training; -increase female participation rates (childcare focus also); -seek to increase employment in the services sector. “Gaps and Weaknesses” approach

EMPLOYMENT & HRD OP Context Objectives Ex-Ante Evaluation of the labour mkt. other key policy contexts, e.g. education, gender, poverty proposed measures Objectives Mobilise labour supply Promote lifelong learning Promote Equal Opportunities Promote Social Inclusion Mobilisation of labour supply and enhancement of skills; focus also on ICT; address labour shortages. Promote the development of a strategic life-long learning framework; Equal opportunities between men and women using a mainstreaming approach (NDP Gender Equality Unit); Social Inclusion focus = particularly with regard to re-integrating the socially excluded and the LTU into the labour force.

Employability Priority Strategy Preventing unemployed drifting into LTU Expanding NES to meet unempl peoples needs Providing sectoral entry training (tourism & agri) Max school retention and help for Early School Leavers Supporting apprenticeship and traineeship Special support for travellers, language for refugees and mainstream training for disabled e.g. National Employment Service = the centrepiece of the response mechanisms in place to meet the needs of employers, job-seekers and job-changers in the labour market. The ESF focuses on co-financing innovative developments within the services sector, including group guidance and the development of new ICT-based delivery mechanisms. Total expenditure on measure = €275m. Co-funded element = €20m (ESF = €11.5, match funding = €8.5m)

Employability Priority Strategy Preventing unemployed drifting into LTU Expanding NES to meet unempl peoples needs Providing sectoral entry training (tourism & agri) Max school retention and help for Early School Leavers Supporting apprenticeship and traineeship Special support for travellers, language for refugees and mainstream training for disabled

Adaptability Priority Strategy Ongoing Sectoral training (tourism, seafood, forestry, equine, agric) Re-training primary, post-primary and college teachers Supporting technicians and disadvantaged under graduates Graduate and post-grad conversion to shortage skill areas Funding new national qualifcations framework

Equality Priority Strategy Unit to assist all implementing bodies to identify and put forward gender mainstreaming proposals Promoting equality action in education system Promoting equality action in training and other fields

Successful ESF Programming and Management requires: Policies and programmes in response to the labour market needs – EES Context Structures and systems in place to manage the programmes: - powerful information technology - clear lines of responsibility - adequately resourced administrations - properly trained staff Good relationship with the Commission and other key partners