The Department of Justice, Home Affairs and Migration has unveiled a €2.7 million funding package for eight grassroots projects that will help newcomers secure jobs and settle more quickly in Irish society. Announced by Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy on 18 December, the grants are part of the European-funded Employment, Inclusion, Skills & Training (EIST) programme and will run for up to four years.
Successful initiatives span the entire country, from Ballyhoura Development’s Migrant Apprenticeship Pathways in Munster to Sligo LEADER Partnership’s ‘Talent Connect’ scheme in the north-west. Several projects focus on language training and recognition of overseas qualifications, while others, such as Business in the Community’s EPIC programme, will match skilled professionals to hard-to-fill vacancies in multinationals.
![Government allocates €2.7 million to boost migrant employment and integration]()
Navigating the paperwork that precedes any upskilling or employment programme can be daunting for both employers and migrants; VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step guidance on entry visas, work permits and residency registration, ensuring that participants in schemes like these arrive with the right documentation and can renew their status on time.
Unlike many earlier integration schemes, the new tranche emphasises employment outcomes, with mandatory reporting on job placements, apprenticeship take-up and salary progression. Officials say this results-oriented approach responds to employer feedback that talent shortages persist in construction, hospitality, healthcare and ICT despite record inward migration.
For global mobility managers, the funding signals that Ireland is redoubling efforts to keep migrants in the labour force rather than losing them to skills-short EU neighbours. Companies may wish to partner with awardees to fast-track local upskilling and improve retention of international hires. The grants also dovetail with the phased rise in employment-permit salary thresholds due in March 2026, giving lower-paid workers more support as wage floors increase.
Successful initiatives span the entire country, from Ballyhoura Development’s Migrant Apprenticeship Pathways in Munster to Sligo LEADER Partnership’s ‘Talent Connect’ scheme in the north-west. Several projects focus on language training and recognition of overseas qualifications, while others, such as Business in the Community’s EPIC programme, will match skilled professionals to hard-to-fill vacancies in multinationals.
Navigating the paperwork that precedes any upskilling or employment programme can be daunting for both employers and migrants; VisaHQ’s Ireland portal (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) offers step-by-step guidance on entry visas, work permits and residency registration, ensuring that participants in schemes like these arrive with the right documentation and can renew their status on time.
Unlike many earlier integration schemes, the new tranche emphasises employment outcomes, with mandatory reporting on job placements, apprenticeship take-up and salary progression. Officials say this results-oriented approach responds to employer feedback that talent shortages persist in construction, hospitality, healthcare and ICT despite record inward migration.
For global mobility managers, the funding signals that Ireland is redoubling efforts to keep migrants in the labour force rather than losing them to skills-short EU neighbours. Companies may wish to partner with awardees to fast-track local upskilling and improve retention of international hires. The grants also dovetail with the phased rise in employment-permit salary thresholds due in March 2026, giving lower-paid workers more support as wage floors increase.
