The ESF co-financed Operational Programme is focused on two priorities: Upskilling the workforce and activation and participation of those outside the labour force.
Priority 1: Upskilling the Workforce
This priority is concerned with the delivery of activities necessary to up-skill the Irish labour force as a means of enabling it to respond effectively to the evolving needs of industry and the economy. The following are examples of the type of interventions that may be supported under this Priority.
Training of employees
Increased numbers of graduates to meet needs of the economy
Vocational education and accredited education
Priority 2: Activation and Participation of Groups outside the Labour Force
This priority is designed to provide for the increased activation and participation within certain groups that are regarded as being a potentially valuable source of workers to Ireland’s labour force. The following actions give an indication of the type of interventions that may be co-financed under this Priority:
Supporting people with a disability
Targeting young people and early school leavers
Basic Education skills
Equality and equal opportunities
Migrant Workers
The BMW Region requires a well-educated and flexible workforce to meet the on-going demands of an increasingly competitive international environment. This requires a strong focus on life long learning initiatives.
The evidence suggests that the BMW Region faces a serious challenge in improving its stock of human capital. General educational attainment is lower than other Regions and graduates have more limited employment opportunities in the region. Increasing productivity, and living standards, in the region will depend on the ability of the regional economy to reverse this trend and provide opportunities for graduates.
There is no duplication between the ESF co-financed Human Capital Investment Programme and this OP. A suite of support services will be provided by the County Enterprise Boards to enable existing and start-up micro-enterprises to increase their capability to raise productivity. This may include some human resource supports but these measures will complement the ESF Operational Programme. There is also potential for complementarity with the urban development priority in addressing the human resources and social inclusion needs of the designated growth centres.
