The Minister of State for Migration, Colm Brophy, has announced €2.7 million in funding for eight projects aimed at enhancing the employability of people who have moved to Ireland as migrants. These initiatives are designed to help participants overcome barriers to employment, including language difficulties, lack of training, and social exclusion, and to enable them to contribute their skills to the Irish workforce.
The funding is provided under the Integration and Employment of Migrants (IEM) Action, part of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills & Training (EIST) Programme 2021–2027. This programme is jointly financed by the European Union through the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and the Government of Ireland, with project durations ranging from one to four years.
Minister Brophy emphasized the value that migrants bring to Ireland, highlighting that the funded projects will support them in translating their experience and skills into meaningful employment opportunities while addressing the social and structural barriers they face. The projects will provide practical assistance, training, and support to facilitate integration and participation in the labour market.
The ESF+ serves as the EU’s primary mechanism to promote employment and social inclusion, focusing on helping people secure work, integrating disadvantaged groups into society, and improving overall life opportunities. In Ireland, the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation and Science (DFHERIS) acts as the Managing Authority for ESF+, while the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (DoJ) oversees the delivery of the IEM Action.
The IEM Action specifically targets legally resident migrants, including EEA nationals and Third-Country Nationals with employment permission in Ireland, as well as beneficiaries of temporary protection (BOTP) fleeing conflict, such as those affected by the war in Ukraine. The action seeks to boost participants’ employability and facilitate their integration into Irish society and the workforce.
