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Departmental Policies

Dáil Éireann Debate, Thursday - 7 October 2021

Thursday, 7 October 2021

Questions (164, 314)

Marc Ó Cathasaigh

Question:

164. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department supports migrant integration; the funding his Department awards in support of community and migrant integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48199/21]

View answer

Bernard Durkan

Question:

314. Deputy Bernard J. Durkan asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has encouraged and promoted integration in all areas throughout the country; the extent of any issues that have arisen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49011/21]

View answer

Written answers

I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 314 together.

Since 2017, the ‘Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) – A Blueprint for the Future’ has been the central policy framework adopted by Government to promote the integration of all migrants who are legally residing in the State.

Coordinated by my Department, the Strategy envisages a whole-of-government approach to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity for migrants across all aspects of Irish society. It brings together State and non-State actors to implement change across 76 targeted actions, including measures to promote social inclusion, to improve access to public services and to address racism and xenophobia.

While initially due to conclude in 2020, the Migrant Integration Strategy was extended to the end of 2021 in recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Strategy’s implementation. My Department intends to commission an independent evaluation of all equality strategies due to conclude this year, the findings of which will inform the development of the future strategic approach to equality policies. I anticipate that a consultation process to develop a new strategic policy for migrant integration will begin early in 2022.

A number of funding streams have been made available by my Department to support migrants, or persons of migrant origin, to participate on an equal basis with those of Irish heritage.

- National Funding Streams

Under the National Integration Fund 2020, a total of €2.2 million has been made available over a three year period to support 18 integration projects nationwide. These projects aim to increase mutual understanding between local communities and migrants; combat racism and xenophobia; promote the integration of vulnerable or socially-excluded immigrants and encourage the involvement of migrants in sport, volunteering and cultural activities.

In addition, the Communities Integration Fund provides small grant funding (€1,000 - €5,000 per project) to local community-based projects to support migrant integration. Following a competitive open call in 2021, 111 local community-based organisations nationwide have been selected to receive grant funding under the Communities Integration Fund totalling €497,772.

Both the National Integration Fund and Communities Integration Fund arose from actions contained within the Migrant Integration Strategy.

- Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)

In 2016, EU Funds Unit (then part of Department of Justice and Equality, now part of Funds Administration Unit of DCEDIY) ran a call for proposals for migrant integration initiatives. 20 projects were selected, with total funding of €4.5m (75% of project budget, funded by EU under the AMIF 2014-2020 programme) over 3 years. In 2019 a further call for proposals awarded funding of €4.5m (again, 75% of total budget, the balance to be co-funded by the grantee) to 19 projects over 3 years to 30 September 2022.

- European Social Fund (ESF)

In 2016, EU Funds Unit awarded grants totalling €3.3m to 5 projects following a Call for Proposals, to fund migrant employment support initiatives over 4 years. These grant amounts were 50% funded by EU, 50% by Government of Ireland.

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