The Minister for Training and Skills, Ciarán Cannon T.D, today (Tuesday 28th) opened the European Social Fund (ESF) Conference on the ESF Contribution to Labour Market Activation in the Royal Hospital Kilmainham, Dublin.
The theme of the conference is preparing the unemployed to take up work with financial assistance from the ESF.
The ESF funds local and regional programmes to fight unemployment. It does this by supporting companies and those seeking work across Europe to gain the skills and experience through investment in education, skills and employment support, to provide work opportunities for the unemployed. To date, the ESF has invested more than €10 billion in these types of programmes.
Ireland was allocated €375 million of ESF funding for the Human Capital Investment Operating Programme 2007-2013. This programme assists in addressing labour market and human capital development needs, and its two main priorities are to increase participation in the labour force and provide citizens from disadvantaged groups with the skills to improve their employment prospects.
The conference will focus on the long term unemployed, youth and those at highest risk of social exclusion.
Minister Cannon welcomed delegates and the Deputy Director General of the European Commission’s Directorate General for Employment, Social Affairs and Inclusion, Mr. Zoltan Kazatsay, to the two day event.
Opening the proceedings, the Minister said: “This conference is very important and timely. With high unemployment levels across Europe, it is pertinent for us as policy makers to consider how the European Social Fund can assist us in upskilling and educating unemployed people, particularly young people, so that they gain sustainable employment.
“The ESF also involves our Social Partners from employer and trade union groups, many of whom are attending the conference today. They will provide valuable input on how they contribute to the Fund by identifying the links between labour market skills and needs.”
The next round for ESF programme funding will commence next year and the policies and themes presented at this Conference will be central to the considerations of Member States for their decision-making on ESF implementation in the next period to 2020.
Notes for Editors:
The European Social Fund, created in 1957, is the European Union’s main financial instrument for investing in people. It supports people seeking to obtain employment and aims to help enhance education and skills.
The ESF has a number of objectives:
Ø Increasing adaptability of workers and enterprises
Ø Enhancing access to employment and participation in the labour market
Ø Reinforcing social inclusion by combating discrimination and facilitating access to the labour market for disadvantaged people
ESF Priorities
In Ireland the ESF supports the development of the labour market and human resources through the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme 2007–2013. This Programme is focused on the priority areas of:
Ø Increasing Activation of the Labour Force
Ø Increasing Participation and Reducing Inequality in the Labour Force