New Funding Initiative to foster Gender Equality

Published: Wednesday, May 12, 2010

The Minister of State for Equality, Integration and Human Rights, Ms. Mary White T.D., launched a new phase of the Equality for Women Measure at an event in Government Buildings.

Minister White told the gathering that the Government hopes to make over €2.1 million available each year for the next four years to support gender focused initiatives. Eligible projects might assist disadvantaged women to prepare for training, education or employment; help budding or developing female entrepreneurs; or support initiatives which help working women to advance up the career ladder.

The Minister said that she expects that at least 40 groups will be able to avail of this funding stream of up to €50,000 each year, with extensions of the funding depending on the successful completion of each year's work programme. This new funding stream complements the funding of €2 million already made available to 36 groups under the first phase of the Equality for Women Measure in 2009/2010. The Minister acknowledged that support which comes from the European Social Fund for this initiative.

Minister White noted that 2010 celebrates the 15th anniversary of the UN Beijing Platform for Action, a global commitment by Governments to foster gender equality. Minister White noted:

"The considerable achievements of the Irish Government to support women here since the publication of the Beijing Platform in 1995. This includes a major investment programme in quality childcare, a five-fold increase in child benefit, significantly extended maternity leave, to mention but a few."

The Minister also noted that:

"During this fifteen year period, women have made a huge contribution to our economy as the number of women at work has almost doubled."

Minister White emphasised the economic benefits of a progressive gender equality policy stating that:

"The benefits of achieving gender equality by supporting access to education and skills development, vocational and occupational training for the creation of a competitive workforce cannot be overestimated".

Full details of the Equality for Women Measure 2010 - 2013 and application forms for funding are available on the Pobal Ltd. website www.pobal.ie.