Written answers

Tuesday, 11 April 2017

Department of Social Protection

Youth Guarantee

Photo of Donnchadh Ó LaoghaireDonnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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357. To ask the Minister for Social Protection the amount of youth guarantee funding spent to date; and the amount of money drawn down from 2014 to 2016 and to date in 2017. [17663/17]

Photo of Leo VaradkarLeo Varadkar (Dublin West, Fine Gael)
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Some elements of the programmes that contribute to Ireland’s response to the EU recommendation on a youth guarantee are part-funded by the EU’s Youth Employment Initiative (YEI). Management of Ireland’s European Social Fund (ESF) Operational Programme, which includes the YEI, is carried out by the ESF Managing Authority, within the Department of Education and Skills.

The YEI is integrated into ESF programming as a dedicated priority axis within the ESF co-financed Programme for Employability, Inclusion and Learning (PEIL) 2014-2020. PEIL includes proposed allocations for over 20 activities, including the YEI, being implemented across a range of bodies, and contains a total budget of €1.153 billion for the period 2014-2020 comprising ESF and Exchequer contributions of €542.43m each and the YEI budget contribution of €68.145m.

Seven actions were originally selected for YEI funding, namely the Back to Work Enterprise Allowance; JobBridge (now closed to new participants from October 2016); JobsPlus Incentive Scheme; Tús; Youthreach, Social Inclusion and Community Activation Programme and Momentum.

The YEI and related ESF 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 can re-allocate the available funding as required, in accordance with the EU Regulatory provisions. The PMC has agreed in principle to the inclusion of Community Training Centres, which are funded by the Education and Training Boards in consultation with SOLAS, as an approved activity under the YEI with effect from 1 January 2017.

I am informed that while no claim for funding has been made to date, the activities concerned are fully funded up-front by the Exchequer and there is therefore no resulting reduction or delay in the funding available to those activities.

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 the Department of Education and Skills 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 or YEI receipts.

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