What Leargas does

Léargas is Ireland's designated National Agency for managing European Union exchange and cooperation programmes across the education, training, youth, and community sectors. Founded in 1985 and headquartered in Dublin, the organisation administers Erasmus+ (covering school education, vocational education and training, adult education, youth, and sport), the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), and eTwinning, alongside associated networks including Eurodesk, EPALE, DiscoverEU, the Youth Wiki, and the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE cross-border initiative. It operates as a company limited by guarantee and a registered charity (RCN 20020330, Company Number 208725) under the aegis of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DFHERIS), with its Board appointed by the Minister.

The organisation does not develop or sell commercial software products. Its technology footprint is a standard SaaS stack (HubSpot for website/newsletter, Google Analytics, EventBrite, SurveyMonkey, SALTO for event management) used to support programme administration, applicant guidance, and outreach. Core delivery is human-led through a structured team of approximately 59 staff organised into six units: Finance and Corporate Services, Operations and Finance, PEACEPLUS ASPIRE, Youth/Sport/ESC Development, Education and Training Development, and Strategic Engagement and Communications.

Revenue is derived from the European Commission and Irish government departments rather than commercial transactions, as Léargas facilitates grant distribution and programme support rather than selling services. Its go-to-market is community-led and event-driven: direct engagement with Irish schools, youth organisations, VET and adult education providers, sport organisations, and individual young people, delivered through Senior Support and Development Officers, training events, application clinics, and an online application platform. The customer base is highly distributed on the beneficiary side but concentrated on the funder side, making the organisation's scale and scope a function of EU and Irish public sector budget cycles.

Name

Leargas

Legal name

Léargas

Website

https://leargas.ie

Company type

Private

Founded year

1985

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Léargas is Ireland's National Agency for managing EU exchange programmes, including Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and eTwinning, serving Irish schools, youth organisations, VET and adult education providers, sport bodies, and individual young people under the aegis of DFHERIS.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

EU Exchange Programme Administration

NAICS

International Affairs (92812), Public Administration (92), Grantmaking and Giving Services (81321)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Erasmus+ and Government-Sponsored Exchange Partnerships (EDAIABAJ)

akta.pro secondary industries

Official Development Assistance (ODA) Program Management (BPADAOAC), Tuition Assistance & Voucher/ESA Program Administration (EDADAHAF), United Nations System & Specialized Agencies (BPADAAAA)

Keywords

• EU exchange programmes
• Education mobility
• Youth volunteering
• Vocational training mobility
• Grant administration

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Government and EU Funding: Léargas operates as a company limited by guarantee and registered charity managing EU programmes (Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, eTwinning) under the aegis of the Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DFHERIS). Funding comes from the European Commission and Irish government departments.

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels7 records

Core offering

Léargas is Ireland's National Agency for managing European Union exchange and cooperation programmes, including Erasmus+, the European Solidarity Corps (ESC), and eTwinning. It administers grant funding, processes applications, provides training and support to Irish educational institutions, youth organisations, vocational training providers, and adult learners, and facilitates international mobility and partnership projects across education, training, youth, and sport sectors.

Product overview

Léargas is the Irish National Agency for European exchange programmes. It operates as a programme management organisation rather than a software product company. The core offerings consist of managing and administering three main EU programmes: Erasmus+ (education and training mobility), European Solidarity Corps (youth volunteering), and eTwinning (digital school collaboration). These programmes are supported by associated networks and platforms including Eurodesk (youth information), EPALE (adult learning platform), DiscoverEU (youth travel initiative), and the Youth Wiki (online learning). Additional services include Training and Cooperation Activities, the National VET Team, and participation in the PEACEPLUS ASPIRE cross-border initiative. The organisation does not develop or sell commercial software products; instead, it provides programme administration, grant management, training, and support services to Irish organisations and individuals participating in European exchange programmes.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Erasmus+ EU programme for education, training, youth and sport. Léargas manages the application, funding, and delivery of mobility projects, partnerships for cooperation, and accreditation across school education, vocational education and training (VET), adult education, youth, and sport sectors for Irish beneficiaries.
• European Solidarity Corps (ESC) EU programme enabling young people aged 18-30 to volunteer, work, or develop solidarity projects abroad. Léargas manages volunteering projects, solidarity projects, and the ESC Quality Label accreditation for Irish applicants and organisations.
• eTwinning
• Eurodesk European youth information network providing European mobility and engagement opportunities to young people. Léargas manages the Irish Eurodesk node, including photo competitions and awareness campaigns.
• EPALE (Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe) European online platform for adult learning professionals. Léargas manages the Irish EPALE node, with a dedicated Support and Development Officer assisting platform users in Ireland.
• DiscoverEU European Commission initiative giving 18-year-olds the chance to travel across Europe by rail, managed as part of Erasmus+ Youth Mobility in Ireland, including a dedicated DiscoverEU Inclusion strand.
• Training and Cooperation Activities (TCAs) Professional development opportunities, transnational networking events, and international training courses for Irish Erasmus+ and ESC programme beneficiaries, including Networking European projects (NET) and international training opportunities listed through SALTO-YOUTH.
• National VET Team Dedicated support team providing resources, guidance, and application support to vocational education and training organisations in Ireland participating in Erasmus+ VET mobility and KA2 cooperation projects.
• PEACEPLUS ASPIRE Cross-border peace and reconciliation programme under the PEACEPLUS initiative supporting cooperation and peace-building through youth work. Léargas is a programme partner for the ASPIRE strand, with a dedicated team of Development and Administrative Officers.

Quantifiable outcome

• 64 Erasmus+ Youth projects funded in 2019 benefiting young people and youth organisations
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered major and core.

• PEACEPLUS Programme (ASPIRE)majorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Léargas is part of the new PEACEPLUS initiative ASPIRE, supporting cross-border cooperation and peace-building through youth work.
• Maynooth UniversitymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Partnership with Maynooth University to deliver the NUI Certificate in European Youth Mobility Project Management. Also collaborated on the YouthWork and You online learning module.
• National Youth Council of IrelandmajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2021Collaborated with NYCI and Maynooth University to develop the YouthWork and You interactive online learning module on international youth work.
• Department of Further and Higher Education, Research, Innovation, and Science (DFHERIS)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLéargas works under the aegis of DFHERIS. The Board is appointed by the Minister. DFHERIS provides governmental oversight and programme authorization for the National Agency.
• Department of EducationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLéargas works in close partnership with the Department of Education for school education and VET programmes.
• Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and YouthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLéargas collaborates with this department on youth and volunteering programmes including European Solidarity Corps.
• Department for Arts, Tourism and SportcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLéargas works with this department on Erasmus+ Sport programmes.
• European CommissioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAs the delegated National Agency, Léargas manages Erasmus+, European Solidarity Corps, and eTwinning programmes on behalf of the European Commission.
• Higher Education AuthoritymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCo-hosted the national launch of the 2021-2027 Erasmus+ and ESC programmes together with Léargas.
• SALTO-YOUTHcoreTechnology or IntegrationEuropean Training Calendar platform used by Léargas for listing international training opportunities for Irish youth workers and educators.
• EurodeskcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLéargas manages the Irish Eurodesk node, providing youth information services across Europe.
• EPALEcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLéargas manages the Irish EPALE node, the Electronic Platform for Adult Learning in Europe.
• eTwinningcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLéargas is the National Support Service for eTwinning in Ireland, supporting schools to collaborate online.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Campus France: French national agency for the promotion of higher education, international mobility, and management of EU programmes including Erasmus+. Operates the same National Agency model as Léargas with government mandate, multi-programme portfolio, and EU funding dependency.
• Movetia: Swiss National Agency for Erasmus+ and youth exchange, administering EU education and youth programmes (note: Switzerland participates in Erasmus+ as a non-EU associated country). Comparable programme portfolio and National Agency role to Léargas, including youth and adult education mobility.
• Agência Nacional Erasmus+ Educação e Formação Profissional (Portugal): Portuguese National Agency for Erasmus+ education and training, structurally identical to Léargas in mandate scope (Erasmus+, ESC, VET, adult education, youth). The closest functional mirror of Léargas' operating model in another EU member state.

Emerging players

• SALTO-YOUTH: European network of resource centres supporting youth worker training and cooperation under Erasmus+ Youth and the European Solidarity Corps. Léargas is a direct SALTO partner (publishes training opportunities via SALTO calendar), making SALTO an adjacent peer and ecosystem partner rather than a competitor.
• Eurodesk: European youth information network that Léargas manages for Ireland. Eurodesk operates as a pan-European peer network of national nodes providing young people with information on European mobility opportunities — the same function Léargas delivers domestically.

Others

• European Education and Culture Executive Agency (EACEA): European Commission executive agency responsible for managing parts of Erasmus+, ESC, and other EU education and culture programmes. Functions as the upstream counterparty to National Agencies like Léargas rather than a competitor; relevant peer for understanding the EU programme architecture Léargas operates within.
• Higher Education Authority (HEA) Ireland: Irish statutory body for higher education policy and funding, co-hosting the national launch of the 2021-2027 Erasmus+ and ESC programmes with Léargas. Functions as a parallel Irish public body in the same ecosystem, with overlapping stakeholder base in universities and higher-education institutions.

Broad incumbents

• DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst): German Academic Exchange Service — Germany's National Agency for Erasmus+ and a major international academic mobility organisation. Closest large-scale peer to Léargas in operating model (National Agency, government-funded, manages EU programmes), differing primarily in scale and its primary higher-education focus.
• British Council: UK-based international cultural and educational organisation that historically managed the UK's Erasmus+ National Agency functions and continues to deliver international education, youth, and cultural exchange programmes. Directly comparable to Léargas in mandate as a national-level programme delivery body, though now operating outside the EU Erasmus+ framework post-Brexit.

Regional players

• National Youth Council of Ireland (NYCI): Irish umbrella body for youth organisations that Léargas partners with to deliver the YouthWork and You online learning module. Functions as a peer ecosystem participant in the Irish youth work sector rather than a direct competitor, comparable in mission focus but not in programme mandate.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/Leargas
• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCBrK-UeNr4UjpiZ7RdAqR7Q
• Facebookfacebook.com/Leargas.Ireland
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/leargas
• Instagraminstagram.com/leargas.ireland

Compliance2 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about Leargas