Press release
Department of Social Protection announces funding of €1.2 million for 8 projects to support Family Carers
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
From Department of Social Protection
Published on
Last updated on
The Department of Social Protection has today announced funding for 8 national and local projects under an initiative to support and improve the employment opportunities for Family Carers.
The initiative, under the Dormant Accounts Action Plan 2024, will place a special focus on empowering family carers to re-enter or remain in paid employment, education and training through a range of targeted interventions. The projects will also place an equal emphasis on addressing the emotional, physical and mental wellbeing of the carers involved.
Following an assessment process organised by Pobal, 8 projects have been successful in their bid for funding under this measure and have been awarded funding totalling €1.2 million.
These projects are designed to empower Family Carers and to provide the practical supports required for carers to remain in or re-enter work and education.
The projects will carry out a range of activities including career skills development through placement opportunities, confidence building and career guidance. The projects will also engage with employers and education institutions to raise awareness of the needs of carers and promoting carer-friendly policies.
The 8 successful projects under this initiative will run from January 2025 up until the end of December 2026. Pobal is managing the measure on behalf of the Department of Social Protection.
List of 8 Funded Projects
| Organisation | Activity | € Awarded | |
| Care Alliance Ireland Co. Dublin | Re-Emerge 2 project aims to support family carers through: offering access to peer-supported learning; one-to-one mentoring; external training including IT training; work readiness support; re-entry to education support; addressing mental/physical barriers to engaging in employment and education. The project will also engage with employers increasing awareness of the needs of carers and promoting access to placement opportunities. Through the programme of supports provided the project aims to increase opportunities for family carers to access further education and position family carers to undertake work that is meaningful and sustainable for them. | €250,000 | |
| Family Carers Ireland | Carer Pathways aims to upskill and empower family carers to re-enter or remain in paid employment through targeted interventions which aim to support 1,356 individuals. Supports will include Counselling, training in confidence building, career exploration, transferrable skills, online job search and sourcing educational opportunities, CV preparation, interview skills, social media profiles and smart technology use. It also strives to future-proof workplaces for family carers by providing targeted programmes of practical learning support including implementation of carer-friendly policies and practices through the Caring Employers Programme. | €249,840 | |
| Galway Autism Partnership CLG Co. Galway | The purpose of this project will be to support carers who are engaged with employment or education & also to provide assistance & support for those wishing to return to work, education or training. | €100,000 | |
| Generation: You Employed, Ireland Co. Meath | Generation Ireland will support 25 family carers to access life-changing technology and green careers. The project will support learners through 10–12-week skills bootcamp related to technology and green skills, followed by up to six months of employability supports. Learners will receive 1:1 mentorship and coaching throughout the programme and matchmade employer interviews, equipping them with the tools needed to secure and maintain roles in the technology and green sectors. | €100,000 | |
| IRD Duhallow CLG Co. Cork | Supporting Family and Voluntary carers into employment across the IRD Duhallow region. The project will support 125 individuals to access employment related training. The project proposes to employ a dedicated programme co-ordinator to act as a career coach, working with participants in the development of a personal progression plan. Proposed activities include: - personal development, stress management, aptitude testing, and development of specific labour market skills. The programme will also raise awareness amongst employers of the needs of carers and encourage employers to provide employment opportunities. | €100,000 | |
| Inishowen Development Partnership (IDP) Co. Donegal | The project proposes to deliver the Care4Carers project over a 2-year period, offering support to 60 family carers. This project will offer opportunities for those involved in informal unpaid caring to connect and reconnect into their local community and to feel valued. This is an opportunity to co-design and pilot a programme that will be tailor made to the support their needs through personal development, mentoring, coaching, guidance and placements/supported employment to provide valuable work experience and training in preparation for their next chapters. During the course of project delivery, the applicant also aims to engage 15 employers, 5 secondary schools and 3 third level institutions raising awareness and the needs of and opportunities for carers. | €68,660.00 | |
| Peter Bradley Foundation Company Limited by Guarantee Co. Dublin | "On With Training & Employment – Building Brighter Futures” supports Family Carers of brain injury survivors in their transition to employment, training or education. It offers comprehensive support, focusing on the Carers' emotional well-being and providing practical training. It equips Family Carers with the skills and confidence to embrace new opportunities and enhance their quality of life. | €250,000 | |
| Vita House Family Services Co. Roscommon | The Roscommon Young Carers Project aims to support 80 young individuals who provide care for family members. It will offer tailored programs, advocacy, and resources to help them manage their responsibilities while promoting their well-being. The project aims to empower these carers by providing essential support and fostering personal development. | €99,035.00 |
Pobal
Pobal is a not-for-profit intermediary organisation that manages various funding programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU.
Dormant Accounts Funding
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.
The main purpose of the legislation is to reunite account or policy holders with their funds in credit institutions or insurance undertakings and in this regard, these bodies are required to take steps to identify and contact the owners of dormant accounts and unclaimed life assurance policies.
In order to utilise the unused funds in dormant accounts and unclaimed policies to best use, the legislation also introduced a scheme for the disbursement of funds that are unlikely to be reclaimed from dormant accounts and unclaimed policies for the purposes of measures to assist: