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Minister McGrath and EU Commissioner Ferreira launch Ireland's Partnership Agreement for Cohesion Funds 2021 - 2027

The Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform, Michael McGrath, together with Elisa Ferreira, EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, launched Ireland’s Partnership Agreement in Dublin today, Tuesday 20 September.

Ireland will benefit from €1.4 billion in Cohesion Policy funding from the European Union for the 2021 to 2027 period. The details of the strategy are laid out in the Partnership Agreement. When this funding is co-financed at a national level, it will mean Cohesion Policy programmes add a total value of almost €3.5 billion to the economy and wider society.

The Cohesion Policy programmes covered by the Partnership Agreement are:

  • the European Regional Development Fund; will help strengthen regional innovation systems. Funds will also assist those at risk of energy poverty by investing in energy efficiency in houses. ERDF will also contribute to improvements in the appearance and liveability of medium sized and smaller towns across Ireland;
  • the European Social Fund+ will contribute to reducing the risk of poverty and social exclusion, with an emphasis of disadvantages groups. Funding will also improve the chances of people to get a job by providing training to up-skill and reskill, lifelong learning, and education measures with a focus on those who face greater challenges in accessing the labour market;
  • the EU Just Transition Fund; will support Ireland’s Midlands region addressing the impact of the transition out of peat for electricity generation;
  • the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund will support the implementation of the Common Fisheries Policy, the growth of a sustainable blue economy and healthy, safe and sustainably management of seas and oceans;
  • additionally, investment will be made through the European cross-border co-operation programmes for joint development in the Northern Periphery and Atlantic areas and with Northwest Europe and the PEACE Plus cooperation programme across the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland

Commenting on the adoption of the Partnership Agreement, Minister McGrath said:

“I am delighted to launch Ireland’s Partnership Agreement today with Commissioner Ferreira. Next year, Ireland will celebrate fifty years of membership of the European Union. Communities throughout Ireland have benefitted from membership of the European Union and from EU funding.

"Cohesion funding has been at the heart of that process and has underpinned Ireland’s economic and social development through that period. It is a key policy tool to stimulate economic growth, promote social cohesion and to reduce disparities between the regions of the EU."

The Minister also commented:

“Cohesion Funding has been one of the success stories of Europe and has played a major role in reducing social and economic disparities and increasing cohesion in a Union of 450 million people in 27 Member States. The focus on reducing energy poverty is particularly welcome in light of our urgent need to reduce dependency on fossil fuels."

EU Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, said:

"Following today's adoption of the Partnership Agreement, Ireland will receive support to further develop its economy in a fair and green manner, ensuring that no region is left behind. Since its accession the EU in 1973, the country had benefitted from Cohesion Policy funds to support its transformation to a modern, innovation-led economy. Support under this new Partnership Agreement will continue to boost innovation across Irish regions, while also contributing to the green transition and to the quality of life in Irish towns. Ireland has a far-reaching smart, green and digital future ahead."

Notes

EU Cohesion Funding

Cohesion policy is the European Union's strategy to promote and support the ‘overall harmonious development’ of its Member States and regions by strengthening economic, social and territorial cohesion through measures aimed at reducing disparities in the level of development between regions.

The Common Provisions Regulation (Regulation 2021/1060 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 June 2021 laying down common provisions) govern 8 EU Funds:

1. ​European Regional Development Fund (ERDF)

2. ​European Social Fund Plus (ESF+)

3. European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMAFF)​

4. ​Just Transition Fund (JTF)

5. Cohesion Fund​

6. ​Asylum and Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)

7. ​The Internal Security Fund (ISF)

8. The Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI)

As Ireland is not part of Schengen, the BMVI instrument does not apply.

Partnership Agreement

The Department of Public Expenditure and Reform has responsibility as ‘Member State’ for developing a Partnership Agreement (PA). The PA is the overarching strategic document, which lays out the strategy and investment priorities to be addressed via the Cohesion policy funds (ERDF, JTF and the ESF+), and the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund (EMFAF). It also sets out information in relation to the HOME funds (Asylum and Migration Fund (AMIF) and Internal Security Fund (ISF). Under the Common Provisions Regulations, which are the common rules covering the funds, no Operational Programme for individual Funds can be submitted until the Partnership Agreement is submitted to the Commission.

The approval of the Partnership Agreement is a requirement to access the Cohesion Policy Funding for the programmes covered by the Partnership Agreement. Ireland will receive a total of €1.4 billion (in current prices) in Cohesion Policy Funds, the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund for the 2021– 2027 period, comprising:

  • €396 million for the European Regional Development Fund;
  • ​€508 million for the European Social Fund+;
  • ​€84.5 million under the EU Just Transition Fund; and
  • €142 million for the European Maritime Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund​

Additionally, €293 million will be allocated to European cross-border co-operation programmes for joint development in the Northern Periphery and Atlantic areas and with Northwest Europe and the PEACE Plus cooperation programme across the border counties of Ireland and Northern Ireland.

When the requirement for match funding is included the full value of the programmes supported by these allocations amounts to almost €3.5 billion. In addition, smaller amounts of funding are available for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF).

Within Ireland the Minister for Public Expenditure and Reform has overall responsibility for EU Cohesion Policy and primary responsibility for the ERDF.

The Minister for Further Higher Education Research, Innovation, and Science has primary responsibility for the ESF+. The Minister for Agriculture, Food & the Marine has responsibility for the EMFAF and the Minister for Environment, Climate and Communications is responsible for the JTF. The Minister of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth is responsible for the AMIF and the Minister of Justice and Equality is responsible for the Internal Security Fund (ISF).

Each department is developing their own programmes, which set out the investment strategies in more detail.

These programmes will be submitted to the Commission separately.