Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 April 2018
277. Deputy John Lahart asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if his attention has been drawn to the closure of a centre (details supplied) as a result of his Department withdrawing funding; if his attention has been further drawn to the benefit this centre brings to the community; the measures he is taking to prevent the closure of the centre; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [17659/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration (OPMI), an Office of my Department, allocates public funding for migrant integration projects on the basis of competitive selection processes carried out in a fair, open and transparent way. This gives a wide range of community and voluntary organisations the opportunity to bid for government funding for projects to support the integration of migrants in our communities.
South Dublin County Partnership received funding from OPMI via South Dublin County Council between 2008 and 2016 under a National Integration Funding Programme that concluded in 2016. In 2017, a new 3 year National Integration Funding Programme was initiated. Grant allocation under this programme was by way of open competitive calls for proposals. All organisations wishing to be considered for funding – including those who had received funding under the previous programme - were required to make new applications. All eligible applications received were assessed by OPMI staff against the published selection criteria. The funding recommendations were reviewed by an assessment committee that included external representatives. In all, 15 projects were selected to receive funding from a total of 73 eligible applications.
An application was received from South Dublin County Partnership which included a request for funding to contribute to the cost of running the centre referred to by the Deputy. Regrettably, this application was unsuccessful in what was a highly competitive process.
My officials advise that at a subsequent meeting held with the Office for Promotion of Migrant Integration in November last year, representatives from South Dublin County Partnership outlined their concerns for the future of the centre in Clondalkin. Officials of my Department proposed a number of alternative options to secure funding. They invited the representatives of South Dublin County Partnership to consider these options further and to submit proposals. However, no such proposals have been forthcoming to date. These options remain open to the organisation and my officials remain available to discuss those options further with South Dublin County Partnership should they so wish.
The National Funding to Promote the Integration of Immigrants is one of a number of funding programmes, administered by or on behalf of my Department to support migrant integration. We also provide funding from the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund and the Communities Integration Fund. South County Dublin Partnership is in receipt of integration project funding under both these funds. In 2017 the Partnership was awarded a grant of €150,000 over three years under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
The Migrant Integration Strategy, which was published in February 2017, makes provision for the continuation of funding through OPMI for integration related projects at community level up to and including 2020. Future "Calls for Proposals" under all integration funding programmes will be advertised on my Department's website, the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration and the EU Funds Unit of the Department. South Dublin County Partnership is entitled to apply as appropriate.
