The Learner Fund
- Name of the instrument - Local language
- The Learner Fund
- Name of the instrument - English translation
- The Learner Fund
- Scheme ID
- 115
- Country
- Ireland
- Reporting year
- 2020
- Type of instrument
- Grant for individuals
- Sub-type of instrument
- Lump-sum support
- Type of entry
- Single instrument
- Short description
Staff working directly with children in registered early years services can apply for the grant. The eligible education and training activities include level 5 and level 6 awards in childcare. The public co-funding share is 75% of the eligible costs (the maximum cost of the course is EUR 750). Learners pay 25% of the cost of the course (i.e. no more than EUR 187,5 as the maximum cost of the course is EUR 750). No preferential treatment is applied.
- Level of operation
- Sectoral
- Name of a part of the country
- Not applicable
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Not applicable
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- Child care
- Relevance
- Further instrument
- Legal basis
- Initiative of the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth.
- Objective(s) and target(s)
- To assist workers in the early years sector meet the minimum requirements for workers in the early years sector
- Year of implementation
- 2014
- Operation/management
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs is responsible for funding the initiative and Pobal (not-for-profit company that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU) is responsible for co-ordinating applications from training providers to be approved for delivering training as well as co-ordinating applications from learners. City/County Childcare Committees review learner applications.
- Eligible group(s)
- Staff working directly with children in registered early years services can apply for the grant.
- Group(s) with preferential treatment
- No preferential treatment
- Education and training eligible
- Level 5 and Level 6 awards in childcare (ISCED 97 5)
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
- Department of Children and Youth Affairs
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
- The public co-funding share is 75% of the eligible costs (the maximum cost of the course is EUR 750). Learners pay 25% of the cost of the course (i.e. no more than EUR 187,5 as the maximum cost of the course is EUR 750).
- Eligible costs
- Specific arrangement
- Volumes of funding
- 2018: EUR 411 7582017: EUR 519 209 2016: EUR 684 129
- Beneficiaries/take up
- 2018: 549 2017: 1 082 2016: 1 032
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
- Not applicable
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- https://www.pobal.ie/FundingProgrammes/learnerfund/Pages/default.aspx
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- https://www.pobal.ie/FundingProgrammes/learnerfund/Pages/default.aspx
- Recent changes
No recent amendment
Recent changes in response to COVID-19
No changes
- Sources
- https://www.pobal.ie/Publications/Documents/Learner%20Fund%202%20-%20Ap…
- https://www.pobal.ie/Publications/Documents/Learner%20Fund%20List%20of%…
- https://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2019/11/Pobal_Annual-Report-and-Annual…
- https://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/Pobal-Annual-Report-2017.pdf
- https://www.pobal.ie/app/uploads/2018/06/Pobal-2016-Annual-Report.pdf
On this page:
- Short description
- Level of operation
- Name of a part of the country
- Name of the region (for regional instruments)
- Name of the sector (for sectoral instruments)
- Relevance
- Legal basis
- Objective(s) and target(s)
- Year of implementation
- Operation/management
- Eligible group(s)
- Group(s) with preferential treatment
- Education and training eligible
- Source of financing and collection mechanism
- Financing formula and allocation mechanisms
- Eligible costs
- Volumes of funding
- Beneficiaries/take up
- Organisation responsible for monitoring/evaluation
- Most relevant webpage - in English
- Most relevant webpage - local language
- Recent changes
- Sources