General Information on the ESF

The European Social Fund (ESF) is one of the EU’s Structural Funds, set up in 1957 to reduce differences in prosperity and living standards across EU Member States and regions, and therefore promoting economic and social cohesion. The ESF is devoted to promoting employment in the EU. It helps Member States make Europe’s workforce and companies better equipped to face new, global challenges. Funding is spread across the Member States and regions, in particular those where economic development is less advanced. It’s a key element of the EU’s 2020 strategy for Growth and Jobs targeted at improving the lives of EU citizens by giving them better skills and better job prospects. More information on the ESF and on the EU, can be found on ec.europa.eu/esf/home.jsp



In Ireland, the Department of Education and Skills is the designated authority with overall responsibility for ESF policy and operational matters. Objectives under the Fund are implemented through Priority 2 of the Human Capital Investment Operational Programme (HCIOP) 2007-2013 (Increasing participation and reducing inequality in the Labour Force) in cooperation with a number of other Government Departments and Agencies, depending on the individual programme concerned. Projects are selected at Departmental/Agency level, and the ESF co-funds eligible expenditure at a rate of 50%. More information on HCIOP and the ESF in Ireland can be found on www.esf.ie








^ Back to top