Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 24 July 2018
918. Deputy Richard Boyd Barrett asked the Minister for Justice and Equality if funding or grants are available for local refugee projects such as project (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [34091/18]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Department of Justice and Equality operates a number of funding schemes in the area of Integration, which includes the integration of refugees. A small grants scheme (of grants up to €5,000) from the Communities Integration Fund and a National Funding to Promote the Integration of Migrants scheme for larger grants over 3 years are both operated by the Integration Policy Unit of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration.
The Communities Integration Fund allocates around €500,000 annually to local community based groups for projects to promote migrant integration, raise intercultural awareness and combat racism in their local communities. Under National Funding to Promote the Integration of Immigrants, grants totalling €1.8 million to help the integration of immigrants were made in 2017 for a total of 15 projects to be delivered over three years in a number of locations across the country by public bodies and NGOs who were successful following an open call for applications. An open call was advertised under the Communities Integration Fund in 2018. The closing date was 3 May and decisions on successful applications will be announced shortly.
The EU Funds Unit administers generally larger grants and for multi-annual projects using funding from European sources including the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and the European Social Fund (ESF). The EU Funds Unit conducted open calls in 2016 and awarded €3m for Integration and Employment of Migrants projects from the ESF fund and €4.5m from AMIF for Integration related projects. It is expected that a further round of AMIF grants will be made in 2019.
The Department, in making funding allocations, has adopted the approach to have an open and transparent call process for selection and awarding of funds and all of these grants schemes are publicised as funding become available.
