How ESF+ is structured in Ireland

25% of ESF+ spending must target social inclusion; 3% on material deprivation (universal requirements). 5% on child poverty applies where national rates exceed the EU average. Multiple intermediate bodies implement different strands — your organisation reports to the IB responsible for your strand.

ESF+Reg. (EU) 2021/1057€1.08bn (2021–2027): €508m EU + €573m Ireland

How the money reaches an organisation

Every level here can be asked for its own process map. That is the point of yours.

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European Commission — DG Employment

Allocates €508m EU co-financing to Ireland under Reg. (EU) 2021/1057

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DFHERIS — Managing Authority

Houses ESF+ Policy & Operations Unit; oversees intermediate bodies across all strands

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Intermediate Bodies: SOLAS · HEA · Skillnet · Pobal · Dept. Social Protection + others

Each IB signs a delegation agreement with DFHERIS and verifies expenditure

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ETBs (16) / HEIs / Skillnet Networks (70)

Organise and deliver training and education at local and regional level

👉 Your organisation sits at this level

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Implementing Orgs — NGOs, FET providers, CE schemes, community orgs

Directly deliver programmes to participants; must maintain participant-level ESF+ records

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Final Beneficiaries

Unemployed, NEETs, people with disabilities, migrants, low-skilled workers

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Audit Chain

ECA → OLAF → Audit Authority (Dept. of Education) → C&AG → DFHERIS → IBs → Implementers

Process maps under this programme

ESF+ — European Social Fund PlusTo pay for the training, guidance and support that gets a person into work — so that public money reaches the people furthest from the labour market, not the easiest ones to help.

Where this came from

Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) Programme 2021–2027 — EU Funds Ireland / Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science

Read against the source on 2026-09-02.

What that check changed: The €1.08bn now says what it is made of: €508m from the EU and €573m from Ireland.