U2's Adam Clayton is on hand at the launch of an open call for Music Education Partnerships to apply for Phase 2 of Music Generation.

This is a non-mainstream music education programme for young people in Ireland.

It was announced that a total of €3m in funding, from philanthropic investment by U2 and The Ireland Funds, is available.

This will enable Music Generation’s expansion into new areas of the Republic of Ireland between 2017 and 2021. 

Music Generation was founded in 2009 when U2 and The Ireland Funds gifted a €7m donation to music education in Ireland.

It included a very clear intention from band frontman Bono: "What we want to do is really simple. We just want to make sure that everyone, whatever their background, gets access to music tuition. That’s the idea."

Eight years on, and the programme provides access to music education for over 38,000 children in 12 areas of the country.

It has also created 330 employment opportunities.

It offers musical tuition in over 50 types of musical instruments, alongside bursaries to support young musicians and a subsidised instrument rental scheme available in many areas.

Welcoming today's announcement, Education Minister Richard Bruton said: "This programme plays an enormous role in providing children with access to a music education...Our ongoing co-funding of Music Generation’s first phase and our commitment to the long-term future of Phase 2 mark a significant investment by Government in the musical futures of Ireland’s children and young people."

 The Department of Education currently supports the Music Generation initiative with an investment of €2.5m per year.

While U2’s Adam Clayton said: “We’re so proud of Music Generation’s great achievement – and the government’s commitment is so important – in bringing this programme to 38,000+ children across the country. The sky is the limit over the next five years."

New Music Education Partnerships must register their interest in applying to Music Generation by Friday February 17th.

The closing date for completed applications is Wednesday May 31st 2017.

Full details and application guidelines are available at www.musicgeneration.ie/apply