• About Us
  • Introduction
  • DCYA Strategy
  • Contact us
  • State Board Vacancies
• Frances Fitzgerald TD, Minister for Children and Youth Affairs
• Childcare
  • What we do
  • Free Pre-School year in Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) Programme
  • Community Childcare Subvention (CCS) Programme
  • Childcare Education and Training Support Programme (CETS)
  • City/County Childcare Committees (CCCs)
  • Childcare Regulations
  • Childminders
  • National Childcare Organisations
  • Childcare Initiatives
• Child and Family Agency
• Child and Youth Participation
  • What we do
  • Comhairle na nÓg
  • Dáil na nÓg
  • National Consultations
  • Children and Young People's Participation Support Team
  • Other Participation Initiatives
  • Research and Policy
  • International Developments
• Child Welfare and Protection
  • What We Do
  • All Island Conference 2013
  • FAQ
• Children First - Child Protection Guidance
• Adoption
• Irish Youth Justice Service
• Youth Affairs
  • What We Do
  • What is Youth Work?
  • Quality Standards Initiatives
  • Policies and Legislation
  • Funding Programmes, Initiatives & Location of Projects
  • Youth Exchange / Transnational Programmes
  • Gaisce - The President's Award Scheme
• Play and Recreation
• Prevention and Early Intervention Initiatives
  • Child Poverty Initiative
  • Child Poverty Initiative Seminar
• Policy and Strategy Development
  • The Children and Young People's Policy Framework
  • National Children's Strategy 2000 – 2010
  • Prevention and Early Intervention Programme
  • National Children's Advisory Council
  • Working Together for Children - Children Services Committees
• Legislation
• International Framework
• Research
  • What we do
  • Children's Funded Research Programme
  • National Set of Child Well Being Indicators
  • Measuring Child Well Being
  • State of the Nation's Children Report
  • Research Placement Programme
  • Research Scholarship Programme
  • Research Briefing Notes
  • FAQ
• Growing Up in Ireland
• National Research and Data Strategy
  • Background to the Strategy
  • Action Plan Updates
  • Inventory of Data Sources
• Children's Database
• Early Years Education Policy Unit
• Funding Opportunities

Youth Exchange/Transnational Programmes

The Youth Affairs Unit provides financial assistance to a number of youth exchange programmes.

International exchange schemes are administered on the Department's behalf by Léargas - The Exchange Bureau. Funding from the Department of Children and Youth Affairs is provided to Léargas towards its operating costs and the cost of administering its exchange programmes.

The YOUTH in Action Programme of the European Community aims to develop the needs of young people (aged 13 to 30) in over 30 countries by providing funding and support for development of specific activities and objectives through non-formal learning with young people and their youth workers/leaders.

Youth in Action Programme - Léargas is the Irish agent for the EU "Youth in Action" (YiA).

The Permanent Priorities of the YiA Programme are:

• European citizenship

Making young people aware that they are European citizens is a priority of the Youth in Action Programme. On this basis, projects should have a strong European dimension and stimulate reflection on the emerging European society and its values.

• Participation of young people

A main priority of the Youth in Action Programme is the participation of young people in democratic life.

• Cultural Diversity

The respect for cultural diversity together with the fight against racism and xenophobia are priorities of the Youth in Action Programme.

• Inclusion of young people with fewer opportunities

An important priority for the European Commission is to give young people with fewer opportunities access to the Youth in Action Programme.

Actions managed under YiA are:

• European Voluntary Service
• Youth Democracy
• Youth Exchanges
• Youth Initiatives
• Youth Seminars
• Training and Networking – Europe
• Youth Exchanges - Neighbouring Partner Counteries (NCP’s)
• Training and Networking – Neighbouring Partner Counteries (NCP’s)

Eurodesk 

Eurodesk is an effective information network designed to provide easy access to European Union data to Irish young people and the people who work with them. It does this by collecting and managing relevant European Union and National information, using these updates to answer your queries and send you the relevant and up-to-date information. Eurodesk in Ireland is operated by Léargas.

Eurodesk Ireland can access a wide range of information relating to EU Programmes and funding opportunities such as the following:

• Youth & Voluntary Service
• Education
• Vocational Education & Training
• Human Resource & Community Initiatives
• European Funding Opportunities

For further information contact:

Eurodesk Léargas
Fitzwilliam Court
Leeson Close
Dublin 2
Tel: 01 873 1411
Fax: 01 873 1316
Email: eurodeskie@eurodesk.eu
Web: www.eurodesk.ie

Co-Operation Ireland

Co-operation Ireland (originally called Cooperation North) was founded in 1979 with the objective of promoting peace and better relations both within Northern Ireland and between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. Its programmes enable people to participate in cross-border and cross community programmes. It has joint patrons - The Queen of England and President Michael D. Higgins.

Co-operation Ireland works with youth and community groups, schools, local authorities, the media, economic development agencies, businesses and training organisations, statutory organisations and governments. They deliver a number of funding programmes and administer cross-border elements of the European Union's Peace and Reconciliation Programme and the Interreg IIIA Programme.

The Youth Affairs Unit (DCYA) funds an exchange programme annually in the Youth Education and Community Programme of Co-operation Ireland.

Email: info@cooperationireland.org

Web: www.cooperationireland.org

Causeway

Causeway is a British-Irish exchange programme that aims to strengthen and improve relationships between young people, and those that work with them, on the islands of Britain and Ireland. Causeway projects promote working in a team and provide a valuable avenue for young people to explore their perceptions of identity and to deal with issues of tolerance and diversity.

The programme is administered in Ireland through Léargas.

Strategic and developmental support for the programme is co-ordinated through a joint management committee steered by the two Governments of Great Britain and Ireland (including the Youth Affairs Unit), and supported by representatives from key organisations from both islands committed to the vision of the programme.

Exchanges also take place under the auspices of the various cultural agreements to which Ireland is a party.

For further information contact: