Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 27 July 2021
1253. Deputy Rose Conway-Walsh asked the Minister for Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science when he anticipates bringing the draft Partnership Agreement and the draft Operational Programmes for ESF+ 2021-2027; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39585/21]
View answerThe Partnership Agreement for 2021-2027 will cover a number of different EU Funds as provided for in the Common Provisions Regulation, including ESF+, the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF), the Just Transition Fund (JTF) and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). The Partnership Agreement is a strategic document setting out the overall priorities across the Funds and will be submitted to the European Commission by the Department of Public Expenditure and Reform as the Member State Authority with overall responsibility for Cohesion Policy. Member States are required to submit their programmes to the Commission no later than 3 months after the submission of the Partnership Agreement.
The ESF+ programme for 2021-2027 is currently under development by the ESF Managing Authority in my Department. An independent Needs Analysis was conducted to provide the evidence base which will underpin the development of the Partnership Agreement and ESF+ and ERDF programmes. The drafting of the programme also draws upon the results of a public consultation process which took place from July to September of 2020. Discussions are ongoing with various Government Departments and Agencies regarding potential schemes for inclusion in the programme and with the European Commission in relation to the detailed drafting of the programme. It is expected that a draft ESF+ programme will be available for submission to the European Commission by the end of 2021.
