Joanna Tuffy (Dublin Mid West, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

694. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills if she will provide an update on the European Social Fund, targeted at poverty; and if she will make a statement on the matter. [23381/15]

Jan O'Sullivan (Limerick City, Labour)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Irish European Social Fund Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020 contains a total budget of €1.153 billion. The ESF will contribute almost €611 million and the Exchequer will contribute €542.43 million. The Programme is focused on Promoting sustainable and quality employment and supporting labour mobility; Promoting social inclusion, combatting poverty and any discrimination and Investing in education, training and vocational training for skills and lifelong learning. Over a third of the total allocation is focused on the social inclusion and combatting poverty element, which will, in particular, help to support the upskilling of people from disadvantaged groups with a view to enabling them to gain employment and help to reduce poverty. However, the majority of national actions to tackle poverty are outside of the ESF programme area.