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

2. 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

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

4. 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.

5. 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

6. 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.

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

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

9. 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

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

11. 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.

12. 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)

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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