Minister of State for Migration Colm Brophy has announced €2.7 million in European-co-funded grants for eight projects designed to boost the job prospects of migrants living in Ireland. The awards, published on 22 December, fall under the Integration and Employment of Migrants Action of the Employment, Inclusion, Skills & Training (EIST) Programme 2021-2027, which is backed by the European Social Fund Plus.
Successful initiatives include targeted English-for-Work classes in Galway, mentorship schemes linking qualified refugees with multinationals in Cork, and a nationwide digital-skills boot-camp delivered by a consortium of community colleges and tech firms. Each project will run for between 18 and 24 months, with progress measured by the number of participants moving into full-time jobs or accredited training.
In tandem with these training efforts, migrants and their employers still need to navigate Ireland’s immigration rules efficiently. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) simplifies the visa application process by allowing applicants to check eligibility, compile required documents and track progress in real time, while corporate dashboards help HR teams manage multiple assignees with ease.
![Government allocates €2.7 million to help migrants in Ireland overcome employment barriers]()
Announcing the grants, Brophy said many newcomers face a “triple lock” of language gaps, non-recognition of overseas qualifications and weak professional networks. “With Ireland approaching full employment, closing those gaps is good for migrants and good for the economy,” he said. The Department of Enterprise estimates that unfilled vacancies cost Irish businesses roughly €3 billion a year in lost productivity.
The move has been welcomed by Ibec and the Small Firms Association, which say the talent pool will help alleviate shortages in hospitality, healthcare and ICT. However, advocacy groups caution that work-permit processing times—currently averaging eight weeks for Critical Skills permits—must improve if employers are to reap the benefits.
For HR teams managing international assignees, the funding offers potential partnership opportunities. Companies can redirect spouses of foreign employees to language and up-skilling courses while tapping government subsidies. Mobility managers should monitor the EIST website for calls for further proposals in early 2026, as Brussels has signalled additional ESF+ allocations for migrant integration next year.
Successful initiatives include targeted English-for-Work classes in Galway, mentorship schemes linking qualified refugees with multinationals in Cork, and a nationwide digital-skills boot-camp delivered by a consortium of community colleges and tech firms. Each project will run for between 18 and 24 months, with progress measured by the number of participants moving into full-time jobs or accredited training.
In tandem with these training efforts, migrants and their employers still need to navigate Ireland’s immigration rules efficiently. VisaHQ’s online platform (https://www.visahq.com/ireland/) simplifies the visa application process by allowing applicants to check eligibility, compile required documents and track progress in real time, while corporate dashboards help HR teams manage multiple assignees with ease.
Announcing the grants, Brophy said many newcomers face a “triple lock” of language gaps, non-recognition of overseas qualifications and weak professional networks. “With Ireland approaching full employment, closing those gaps is good for migrants and good for the economy,” he said. The Department of Enterprise estimates that unfilled vacancies cost Irish businesses roughly €3 billion a year in lost productivity.
The move has been welcomed by Ibec and the Small Firms Association, which say the talent pool will help alleviate shortages in hospitality, healthcare and ICT. However, advocacy groups caution that work-permit processing times—currently averaging eight weeks for Critical Skills permits—must improve if employers are to reap the benefits.
For HR teams managing international assignees, the funding offers potential partnership opportunities. Companies can redirect spouses of foreign employees to language and up-skilling courses while tapping government subsidies. Mobility managers should monitor the EIST website for calls for further proposals in early 2026, as Brussels has signalled additional ESF+ allocations for migrant integration next year.
