Brendan Smith (Cavan-Monaghan, Fianna Fail)
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1370. To ask the Minister for Education and Skills when contact was made with the European Commission seeking assistance through the European Social Fund to help deal with difficulties arising from storm Éowyn; the outcome of such discussions, if any; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3540/25]

James Lawless (Kildare North, Fianna Fail)
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As the Deputy may be aware, in December 2024 the European Council adopted a set of regulations aimed at helping member states affected by natural disasters. These measures are a direct response to the devastating floods and wildfires that ravaged Central, Eastern and Southern Europe last autumn. The regulation on Regional Emergency Support to Reconstruction (RESTORE) will ensure that EU cohesion policy funds can rapidly and flexibly be mobilised to assist the affected member states in post-disasters recovery and rebuilding efforts though the ESF+ and ERDF programmes. (Regulation (EU) 2024/3236)

The RESTORE regulation amends the regulation governing the European Regional Development Fund (ERDF) and the Cohesion Fund, and the regulation establishing the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) for the 2021-2027 programming period, to enable member states to re-programme funds for RESTORE priorities. It offers additional assistance (within existing funding allocations) for member states affected by natural disasters occurring in 2024 and 2025, covering measures such as repairing damaged infrastructure and equipment, and providing food and basic material assistance and social and healthcare support.

Such measures will benefit from an increased maximum co-financing rate of 95%, along with an additional pre-financing rate of 25% to help ease the budgetary pressure on the impacted member states.

The overall resources available for reprogramming under RESTORE are capped at 10% of the initial total national allocation for the ERDF (infrastructure and equipment) and ESF+ (food and basic material assistance and social and healthcare support).

The EU Council Regulation (EC) No 2012/2002, Article 2.2 provides

"A ‘major disaster’ within the meaning of this Regulation means any disaster resulting, in at least one of the States concerned, in damage estimated either at over EUR 3 billion in 2002 prices, or more than 0,6 % of its GNI. By way of exception, a neighbouring Member State or country involved in accession negotiations with the European Union, which has been affected by the same disaster can also benefit from assistance from the Fund. However, under exceptional circumstances, even when the quantitative criteria laid down in the first subparagraph are not met, a region could also benefit from assistance from the Fund, where that region has been affected by an extraordinary disaster, mainly a natural one, affecting the major part of its population, with serious and lasting repercussions on living conditions and the economic stability of the region. Total annual assistance under this subparagraph shall be limited to no more than 7,5 % of the annual amount available to the Fund. Particular focus will be on remote or isolated regions, such as the insular and outermost regions as defined in Article 299(2) of the Treaty. The Commission shall examine with the utmost rigour any requests which are submitted to it under this subparagraph."

The European Social Fund+ Managing Authority (ESF+ MA) in my Department is responsible for the ESF+ 2021-27 programme in Ireland. This Programme was developed following an extensive period of preparation and consultation with other Government Departments and Agencies, civil society partners and the European Commission. This programme is known as EIST (Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training).

ESF+ Funding is allocated over a 7 year programming period aligned to the EU’s Multi-Annual Financial Framework. Ireland’s ESF+ allocation for 2021-27 is €508m. ESF+ is a co-financed programme, meaning that this EU allocation must be matched by national funding.

In Ireland, all ESF+ actions are funded up front via the exchequer or the National Training Fund. The EU portion of funding is then reimbursed to the relevant Departmental vote/NTF upon submission of certified claims to the Commission.

As such, all Departments/Agencies implementing actions under ESF+ must have secured up front funding for their action in order to be included in programme.

While Ireland's ESF+ allocation has been fully allocated, the Irish ESF+ MA and the Monitoring Committee maintain an ongoing overview of the funding allocations under the EIST and may re-allocate funding as required, in accordance with the EU Regulations.

The ESF+ MA, and the Monitoring Committee, are happy to consider any proposals from Government Departments for inclusion in the EIST Programme that may comply with the requirement of the RESTORE amendment.

The Department of Public Expenditure, NDP Delivery and Reform has overall responsibility for ERDF in Ireland.