Eurofound's EU PolicyWatch collates information on the responses of government and social partners to the COVID-19 crisis, the war in Ukraine, rising inflation, as well as gathering examples of company practices aimed at mitigating the social and economic impacts.
Factsheet for measure IE-2021-1/1274 – measures in Ireland
Country | Ireland , applies nationwide |
Time period | Temporary, 01 January 2021 – 30 June 2022 |
Context | COVID-19 |
Type | Other initiatives or policies |
Category |
Promoting the economic, labour market and social recovery
– Active labour market policies (enhancing employability, training, subsidised job creation, etc.) |
Author | Roisin Farelly (IRN Publishing) and Eurofound |
Measure added | 12 October 2020 (updated 27 November 2020) |
In September the Government announced the provision of €5 million to upskill and fund education and training opportunities for carers and people with disabilities. The funding is part of the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2020 and is administered by the Department of Social Protection.
A dormant account is an account with a credit institution that has had no customer-initiated transactions for 15 years. Money in dormant accounts is used to benefit the public, helping people who: are economically or socially disadvantaged by supplying opportunities for personal and social development, are educationally disadvantaged, or have a disability.
Funding from the Dormant Accounts Fund has been used for a number of years to support projects that promote training and supports for family carers. This funding has been extended again in 2020.
The Dormant Accounts Acts 2001-2012, together with the Unclaimed Life Assurance Policies Act 2003, provide a framework for the administration of unclaimed accounts in credit institutions (i.e. banks, building societies and An Post) and unclaimed life assurance policies in insurance undertakings.
As part of the Dormant Accounts Fund (DAF) Action Plan for 2020, community and voluntary organisations who wish to support and improve the employment opportunities for Family Carers, including Young Carers and Persons with a Disability can apply for funding.
The purpose of this funding is to:
Funding will be provided to the successful applicants from 1 January 2021 to 30 June 2022. This will facilitate a set-up month in December 2020, for example: commencement of staff recruitment and 18 months project activity.
There are three measures under which an organisation can apply:
National organisations may apply for a grant ranging from €75,000 to €200,000. Local organisations may apply for a grant that ranges from €20,000 up to €50,000. For national organisations applying for both Measure 1 (family carers) and Measure 2 (young carers) the maximum grant paid is €200,000.
The revised measure expands the remit for whom funding can be given to. Prior to COVID-19 the dormant accounts fund was used for people with visual impairment and/or hearing loss. The funding can now be applied in respect of general disability, to ensure maximum effectiveness. The expanded remit was motivated by the pandemic but the use of the funds is not COVID-19-specific.
No information currently available.
Workers | Businesses | Citizens |
---|---|---|
Other groups of workers
Disabled workers |
Other businesses
|
Disabled
|
Actors | Funding |
---|---|
National government
Other social actors (e.g. NGOs) |
National funds
|
Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:
Trade unions | Employers' organisations | |
---|---|---|
Role | No involvement | No involvement |
Form | Not applicable | Not applicable |
Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:
No involvement
No information
Citation
Eurofound (2020), Government announces extra funds for carers and people with disabilities, measure IE-2021-1/1274 (measures in Ireland), EU PolicyWatch, Dublin, https://static.eurofound.europa.eu/covid19db/cases/IE-2021-1_1274.html
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