Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 23 February 2022
157. Deputy Claire Kerrane asked the Minister for Social Protection if citizens living in the State will be able to avail of the European targeted mobility scheme should they relocate to the North of Ireland; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [10168/22]
View answerThe EURES ‘Targeted Mobility Scheme’ (TMS) aims to foster movement for workers within the European Union by the creation of innovative job mobility projects with the support of the European Commission. The initiative is financed under the Employment and Social Innovation ("EaSI") strand of the ESF+ which is a European-level financing instrument managed directly by the European Commission.
The scheme covers a broad range of placements regulated by law, providing direct financial support to jobseekers. These include a contribution to candidates towards costs relating to attending job interviews, relocation trip costs, language trainings, and recognition of qualifications and diplomas. Financial support is available to employers to assist newly recruited employees to integrate e.g. language training, where they are offering a written work contract of at least six months (for jobs or apprenticeships) or three months (for traineeships).
The target groups who can benefit from the EURES TMS scheme support are people over 18 and employers. Unemployed people and vulnerable groups are given priority. Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or equivalent organisations can also receive financial support.
To be eligible for participation on the scheme a person must be relocating to find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship in an EU Member State, or an EEA country, other than their country of residence.
The person must be:
- a national of any of the EU Member States or EEA countries in accordance with the EEA agreement on participation in the EaSI Strand of the ESF+ programme
or
- legally resident in an EU Member State, or EEA countries in accordance with the EEA agreement on participation in the EaSI Strand of the ESF+ programme.
The EURES TMS scheme does not support the return mobility of workers returning to their country of origin.
A national of any of the EU Member States or EEA countries currently living in Northern Ireland and relocating to another EU Member State or EEA country to find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship is eligible for TMS provided they meet all the qualifying criteria for the scheme. A person relocating to Northern Ireland to find a job, traineeship or apprenticeship is not eligible for TMS as Northern Ireland not an EU Member State or an EEA country.
