Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1249. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the amount of ESF/YEI funding being claimed in arrears in each year since 2014; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39581/21]
View answer1250. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science of the 552.661 million allocated from the EU budget for Ireland operational programme for ESF/YEI 2014-2020 the amount that has been received on foot of payment applications to date; the last possible date for receiving payment from the 2014 – 2020 ESF/YEI; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39582/21]
View answer1251. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science the programmes the Government will avail of the 100% EU co-financing rate for ESF/YEI payment applications made during the 2020-2021 financial year; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39583/21]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1249, 1250 and 1251 together.
The 2014-20 ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) was approved by the European Commission in February 2015 and subsequently launched in April 2015. Following the allocation of an additional €2m funding as part of the mid-term Review of the Multi-Annual Financial Framework, the PEIL OP had a total budget of €1,157 million. This budget comprises ESF and Exchequer contributions of €544.516m each and an EU Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) budget contribution of €68.145m. Following the exceptional measures introduced by the Commission in the context of the pandemic, the PEIL OP was revised in December 2020 to transfer €60m of the ESF allocation to the ERDF Operational Programme to support the cost of supplying essential Personal Protective Equipment for the Health Services. This reduced the overall Programme to €1,037m (a reduction of €120m combining the loss of €60m ESF and the complementary €60m national contribution) and the EU contribution to €552.661m. All ESF/YEI co-financed activities are fully funded from the Exchequer/NTF with the EU receipts being claimed in arrears.
The ESF authorities must be designated in accordance with the EU regulations prior to making the first payment application. Following the designation of the Irish authorities in 2018, the payment applications (net of any audit adjustments) made each financial year (from 1 July to 30 June) and the associated receipts, are set out in the following table. The Commission pays 90% of the value of payment application, with any remainder due, less prefinancing issued, being paid on acceptance of the annual accounts for the financial year.
|
Financial Year |
EU Contribution Payment Applications (net of audit adjustments) |
EU Receipts from European Commission on Payment Applications |
|
2018/19 |
€199,361,994 |
€180,781,047 |
|
2019/20 |
€93,237,514 |
€84,387,769 |
|
2020/21 |
€259,660,742^ |
€46,018,818 |
|
Total |
€552,260,250 |
€311,187,634 |
|
2020/21 Receipts Expected |
€187,675,850 |
These Payment Applications will be subject to audit before the 2020/21 accounts are lodged in February 2022.
The final payment applications in 2020/21 were submitted on 30th June. While these have yet to be processed by the Commission, receipts of €187,675,850 are expected. Expenditure declarations in respect of the following activities were included in payment applications in 2020/21, attracting a 100% cofinancing rate:
- ETB Training for the Unemployed;
- Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme;
- Youthreach;
- Garda Youth Diversion Programme;
- Young Persons Probation Projects;
- Tús Nua;
- Third Level Access;
- Back to Education Initiative;
- Adult Literacy;
- Back to Work Enterprise Allowance;
- JobsPlus;
- Community Training Centres;
- Defence Forces Employment Support Scheme; and
- Technical Assistance.
The effect of the 100% cofinancing of payment applications in 2020/21 has been to reduce the overall value of the OP from €1,037m to €798m. An EU contribution of €400,995 remains to be claimed in future payment applications.
The ESF rules provide for the payment of initial and annual pre-financing of EU support. To date prefinancing receipts and accounts adjustment receipts of €58,858,274 have been received, bringing the total receipts to date to €370m. Accordingly when the expected receipts of €187m are received, there will be an amount due to be repaid to the Commission on the closure of the 2020/21 accounts.
As the 2021 REACT EU allocation of €88m will be programmed under the PEIL, the OP will continue to operate and the end date of eligibility for the OP, including the REACT EU allocation and the outstanding amount of €400,000, is end 2023.
