Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 9 March 2017
109. Deputy Noel Rock asked the Minister for Education and Skills the amount the State has received to date from the European Social Fund and the Youth Employment Initiative in an effort to tackle youth unemployment; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [12536/17]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) allocation for Ireland is €68m. This amount matched by equal amounts from our European Social Fund (ESF) allocation and from the Exchequer, giving an overall allocation of €204m. The YEI is integrated into ESF programming as a dedicated priority axis within the ESF Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020. Seven actions were originally selected for YEI funding, namely the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance; JobBridge; JobsPlus Incentive Scheme; Tús; Youthreach, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and Momentum. These actions are underway and are being fully funded up-front by the Exchequer.
This funding is available for drawdown before the end of 2018 and while a claim for funding has not been made to date it is expected that the funding will be fully drawn down. The ESF Managing Authority and the Operational Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) maintain an ongoing overview of the funding allocations under the PEIL and will re-allocate the available funding as required, in accordance with the EU Regulatory provisions. The PMC has agreed in principle to the inclusion of the Community Training Centres, which are funded by the ETBs in consultation with SOLAS, as an approved activity under the YEI with effect from 1 January 2017.
The ESF co-financed Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) for the period 2014-2020, contains a total budget of €1.153 billion, comprising ESF and Exchequer contributions of €542.43m each and an EU Youth Employment Initiative (YEI) budget contribution of €68.145m. The overall YEI allocation is €204m. The PEIL includes proposed allocations for over 20 activities, including the YEI, being implemented across a range of bodies.
While no claim for funding has been made to date, it is expected that the funding allocated will be fully drawn down during the programming period. Furthermore, as the activities concerned are fully funded up-front by the Exchequer there is no resulting reduction or delay in the funding available to those activities.
The ESF Managing Authority, within my Department and the Operational Programme Monitoring Committee (PMC) maintain an ongoing overview of the funding allocations under the PEIL and will re-allocate the available funding as required, in accordance with the EU Regulatory provisions, over the lifetime of the PEIL.
Under the ESF Regulations, initial and annual pre-financing is provided by the Commission, resulting in receipts of €51.8m for the PEIL to date. Of this €51.8m, €28.3m relates to ESF advances and €23.5m relates to YEI advances. €20.4m (€18m ESF and €2.4m YEI) of these receipts have been distributed, while the remaining €31.4m (€10.3m ESF and €21.1m YEI) has or will be reimbursed to the Commission in the absence of a claim being made. Work on the designation of the relevant ESF authorities, including the provision of a national computerised accounting and information system for EU funds to meet the 2014-2020 functionality requirements is continuing.
I understand that my Department expects that this designation work will be completed in the coming months and that it is proposed to commence the preparation of a first interim claim for payment from the Commission once the process of designation has concluded. This claim will be made within the EU Regulatory deadlines to ensure no loss of ESF receipts.
