The European Social Fund + (ESF) aims to support Member States and regions to improve employment and education opportunities, to enhance social inclusion and to tackle poverty.

The European Social Fund + (ESF) aims to achieve:

• high employment levels
• fair social protection
• the eradication of poverty
• a skilled and resilient workforce
• equal opportunities
• equal access to the labour market
• fair and quality working conditions
• social protection and inclusion.

2025 ESF+ Open Call

On the 31 July 2025, the Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy TD, launched a Call for Proposals seeking applications from suitably qualified organisations for funding of projects under Priority 3-Social Inclusion “Integration and Employment of Migrants” activity of the Programme for Employment, Inclusion, Skills and Training (EIST) 2021-2027.

Integration and Employment of Migrants

This Activity is aimed at legally resident migrants who are experiencing barriers to participation and employment because of language difficulties, lack of training or social exclusion. The Activity proposes to increase the levels of employability of the participants.

The specific categories of persons targeted by this Activity are as follows:

• EEA Nationals who are resident in Ireland
• Third-Country Nationals (TCN) with permission to enter employment in Ireland, including refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine.
• ‘Third-country national’ means any person who is not a citizen of the European Union. Reference to TCN shall be understood to include stateless persons and persons with undetermined nationality.

Funding will be made available through the Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration (60% EU-funded, 40% Exchequer funded for projects located in the Northern and Western NUTS II Region with 40% EU funding and 60% exchequer funding for projects in all other areas) over the period of the programme.

Up to €2.7 million may be committed under this call, over 3 years.

Full details available here: https://www.gov.ie/en/department-of-justice-home-affairs-and-migration/publications/amif-and-esf-funding/#2025-esf-open-call

Deadline: Thursday 11th September 2025