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Immigration Policy

Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 22 September 2020

Tuesday, 22 September 2020

Questions (637)

Carol Nolan

Question:

637. Deputy Carol Nolan asked the Minister for Justice the status of the implementation of commitments made in the Migrant Integration Strategy (details supplied); and if she will make a statement on the matter. [24789/20]

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Written answers

The Communities Integration Fund was first established in 2017 to implement the commitment under Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy to support actions by local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees.

Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, formal and informal schools and theatrical and cultural organisations. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis. Projects under the following themes will be considered:

- Intercultural Awareness

- Combating Racism and Xenophobia

- Sport & Community Games

- Arts

- Other Community Events

- Capacity Building

- Integration Research

- Food/Cuisine

- Education

This funding can be used for both once-off initiatives and short to medium term projects. Projects take an inclusive approach, aiming to bring migrants a nd host communities together, and may not be directed solely to any one particular group or nationality.

The Communities Integration Fund 2019 had funding capacity of €500,000 and a maximum grant of €5,000 per project. There were 125 successful applications and applications from 25 counties.

The Communities Integration Fund 2020, was launched on 19 June 2020, and the application period closed on 16 July 2020. It also has funding capacity of €500,000. My Department has received 332 applications for funding. They are currently being assessed and the results will be known in the next couple of weeks.

The Migrant Integration Strategy contains 12 actions focussed on addressing the educational needs of migrants and the implementation of these actions falls under the remit of my colleague, the Minister for Education and Skills.

In respect of initiatives to encourage the business sector to play a role in promoting integration, my Department is participating in the implementation of the National Action Plan on Corporate Social Responsibility and supporting the promotion of the Diversity Charter among businesses in Ireland. Various funding streams launched by my Department have included initiatives aimed at encouraging and improving the promotion of migrant employment in the private sector. For example, the EU's Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF) were utilised by my Department to fund the EPIC programme (Employment for People from Immigrant Communities), which is implemented by Business in the Community Ireland (BITCI). Further actions and initiatives will be considered.

With regard to the establishment of a working group to examine data gaps in relation to migrant needs and experience, the Integration Data Group was formed in 2018. The following organisations were represented on the group: the Department of Employment Affairs and Social Protection; the Department of Education and Skills; the Department of Health; the Central Statistics Office (CSO), the Economic and Social Research Institute (ESRI); and my own Department. Arising from the Migration Integration Strategy commitments, my Department commissioned research on “Mapping Data Needs for Migrant Integration” from the ESRI as part of the 2017-2019 Research Programme on Equality and Integration. This research was carried out in 2018 and the report Data for Monitoring Integration: Gaps, Challenges and Opportunities was published in March 2019. The report can be found at -

https://www.esri.ie/publications/data-for-monitoring-integration-gaps-challenges-and-opportunities

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