Written Answers Nos. 32-46
34. Deputy Richard Bruton asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if his attention has been drawn to the closure of childcare providers which is creating a situation in which some children do not have a place in a childcare facility. [15366/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe availability of high-quality early learning and childcare that is affordable and accessible is a key Government priority.
Since 2015, significant increases in State investment in early learning and childcare has given rise to a substantial growth in the numbers of children participating in these services. More than 100,000 children now participate on the universal pre-school programme on an annual basis and the National Childcare Scheme subsidises up to 80,000 children.
To ensure that the supply of early learning and childcare places meets demand, my Department has, since 2015, funded the creation of more than 27,000 new places through an Annual Capital Programme.
Before the onset of Covid-19, national data indicated that, on the whole, supply of early learning and childcare places was meeting demand, with evidence of undersupply for certain age groups including children under 3, and in certain areas.
Data gathered throughout the Covid-19 pandemic revealed lower demand for early learning and childcare, and reduced occupancy among early learning and childcare services. Indeed, data captured in June 2021 found significant vacancy rates across the country – with the national vacancy rate averaging at 21%.
|
National Vacancy Rate By Age (June 2021) |
|
|
Up to 1 year (0-12 months) |
20% |
|
1 year+ to 2 years (13-24 months) |
10% |
|
2 years+ to 3 years (25-36 months) |
17% |
|
3 years+ to 4 years (37-48 months) |
17% |
|
4 years+ to 5 years (49-60 months) Non-School-Going |
12% |
|
4 years+ to 5 years (49-60 months) School-Going |
42% |
|
5 years+ to 6 years (61-72 months) Non-school going |
30% |
|
5 years+ to 6 years (61-72 months) School going |
48% |
|
6 years+ to 8 years (73-96 months) |
37% |
|
8 years+ |
34% |
|
Total |
21% |
Moreover, recent Tusla data shows that the number of services notifying their closure to Tusla in 2021 is less than the number of service closures that occurred in 2020 and 2019.
|
ELC Closures |
ELC New Registrations |
|||||
|
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
2019 |
2020 |
2021 |
|
|
Full year |
196 |
197 |
141 |
93 |
91 |
65 |
My Department is continuing to monitor early learning and childcare capacity, with a particular focus on monitoring Covid-19 impacts as public health restrictions have been lifted and responding to the unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Pobal has, using the data captured in June 2021 and current registration data, recently projected vacancy rates in February 2022. While this analysis shows a fall in vacancy rates from June 2021 to February 2022 – with vacancy rates falling from 21% to 19%, this analysis suggests that there is unused capacity across the country. Further analysis is being undertaken by Pobal to establish if this unused capacity varies by type of provision or location, to establish the degree of mismatch is supply and demand for certain cohorts or children or in certain areas.
Pobal will also commence new data collection in April 2022, as part of the Annual Early Years Sector Profile survey. This will allow for updated information on capacity among early learning and childcare services to be established.
In addition to these efforts to monitor capacity issues across the country, my Department is planning a range of steps to address any issue of under supply. A new funding model, to roll out in September, will provide funding for services aligned to costs of delivery so, for example, greater funding will be available to services that cater for younger children where costs of delivery are higher than older children. Some €70m has been allocated to my Department through the revised National Development Plan (NDP) – with the majority of this funding earmarked for new places. Another important step being taken by my Department, in partnership with the Department of Housing Planning and Local Government (DHPLG), is to update the 2001 Planning Guidelines for Local Authorities on Early Learning and Childcare Settings. In addition, CCC are currently proactively engaging with early learning and childcare services to identify unused capacity and explore the potential for services in increase capacity where there is evidence of unmet early learning and childcare needs of families.
Parents experiencing difficulty in relation to their early learning and childcare needs should contact their local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) for assistance. Contact details for CCCs may be found on www.myccc.ie.
35. Deputy Martin Browne asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the engagement he has had with the Department of Health to address the difficulties children are experiencing in accessing a timely assessment of needs; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15103/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe two key areas where my Department engages with the Department of Health in addressing access to assessment of needs are in relation to disability policy matters and the provision of specialist support for children with additional needs in early learning and care services through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM).
Officials in my Department are engaging on an on-going basis with officials from the Department of Health on all disability policy matters as part of the work underway to prepare for the Transfer of Specialist Community Based Disability Services from the Department of Health to my Department. Throughout recent weeks and months officials have provided detailed briefing to me on the assessment of need process and its related issues. Against this backdrop I strongly supported and welcomed the significant additional funding provided in this year’s budget to the HSE to enhance the development of Children’s Network Disability Teams across the country. The recently approved and published HSE National Service Plan demonstrates a strong commitment by the HSE to continued improvement in disability services. I very much welcome the recent publication of the Disability Capacity Review which it is hoped will provide a future road map for expansion and improvement of disability services. In addition I meet regularly with Minister Rabbitte on all important areas. In the context of the recent High Court Judgement in relation to the Assessment of Need Standard Operation Procedure, I have been briefed that the Department of Health officials are engaging with the HSE to consider the impact and appropriate steps.
AIM is a programme of supports designed to ensure that children with disabilities can access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) pre-school programme. AIM offers tailored, practical supports based on need and does not require a formal diagnosis of disability. It should be noted that a formal diagnosis of disability does not guarantee additional supports under AIM, as it may be found that existing supports are sufficient to ensure a child’s meaningful participation in the ECCE programme. The HSE form part of our structures and we engage from time to time on issues of assessment of need for therapeutic support. Other types of supports range from specific equipment and capital grants to assessing appropriate medical supports for children to enable them to attend preschool.
37. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the measures he will put in place to support a fair and equitable recovery for children and young persons impacted by the Covid-19 lockdowns and restrictions of the past two years; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [14665/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraIn the first instance I would like to acknowledge the negative impact that Covid-19 has had on all our people both young and old. I would also like to commend our children and young people for the way they have dealt with the impact of the pandemic on their lives. The loss of social outlets during lockdowns has been felt across our society and my Department has put a number of measures in place to aid the recovery of our children and young people from the impacts of the pandemic.
Clearly, one of the key issues for children and young people is the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and associated public health measures. I know all children and young people have been significantly adversely impacted by the events of recent years, with school closures, changed or reduced availability of certain services, as well as causing disruption to children and young people’s social lives. Moreover, some reports have demonstrated that the pandemic had particularly adverse impacts on those who are most vulnerable in our society.
My Department is working to ensure that we have an equitable recovery from this pandemic. My department is currently developing a successor policy framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures, the National Policy Framework for Children and Young People, which will run to 2028. Addressing the harm caused to our children and young people will form a key part of the successor policy framework. It will build on the successes of the previous policy, such as the 5 National Outcomes, and elements of the implementation structure which helped to deliver change for children and young people such as the National Advisory Council. However, I am also conscious that the successor policy framework will have to address the many issues children and young people face. I am pleased that my Department recently completed an open, public consultation to inform the successor framework, looking both at what is going well for children and young people, what is not going well, and what actions Government should take to enhance children and young people’s lives, especially those who are vulnerable.
The Growing up in Ireland (GUI) survey has tracked outcomes for children and young people before and during the pandemic. The special GUI Covid survey carried out in December 2020 showed that many 12 year olds participated less in organised activities and many 22 year olds spent less time with friends during the pandemic. Many participants in both groups also reported symptoms of low mood, 22% of 12 year olds and almost half of 22 year olds. GUI is currently collecting data from 13 year olds which will shed light on how they are doing in relation to health, education, socioemotional well-being, activities and relationships in the aftermath of the pandemic. GUI will also survey the older group at the age of 25 in 2023 on these issues, as well as their experiences of employment.
My Department has a significant role to play in promoting the wellbeing of children and young people, as well as the realisation of children’s rights, across Government. I am committed to consulting with our partners within and outside Government on this topic, listening carefully to the results of our recent, public consultation and continuing to study the specific impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on those who are vulnerable to ensure our policy sets out a robust framework for recovery and for improved outcomes for children and young people.
Throughout the pandemic, my Department has engaged with children and young people to learn about their experience during the pandemic. In the summer of 2020, my Department, the Department of Health and the youth sector, collaborated with SpunOut.ie to undertake an online survey of young people’s experiences of COVID-19. A Youth Advisory Group worked with officers from my Department to guide the development and analysis of the consultation. The consultation asked young people about what has been working well for them and the challenges in maintaining their wellbeing during COVID-19. This engagement by my Department gave young people a chance to provide us with feedback on what could be useful in improving their mental health and wellbeing over the coming months.
Children and Young People Services Committees (CYPSC) responded to the COVID-19 pandemic and utilised my Department’s programme funding to help coordinate initiatives in response to identified needs for children and young people and their families. Examples of this important work included the delivery of school meals, family educational and activity packs, and food packs to local families. This work was done in collaboration with local partners in the Community & Voluntary sector, such as the Children’s Rights Alliance. This work is ongoing, with CYPSCs continuing to identify and address the needs of disadvantaged communities throughout the pandemic.
Given the importance of early learning and childcare for children, their families, and society more broadly, I put in place a range of supports for the early learning and childcare sector since the onset of Covid-19 pandemic.
During periods of closure and restricted access to services, supports had included tailored funding arrangements a range of capital programmes, an antigen programme, sector-specific infection prevention and control guidance, and access to the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS).
Ensuring that early learning and childcare services continue to operate safely for children, families and staff, is among the key objectives of these supports.
Supporting parents and enabling them to fulfil their roles will be vital as the country recovers from the impacts of the pandemic. My Department is currently finalising a national model for parenting supports, which seeks to support all parents to be confident and capable in their parenting role, and to achieve the best outcomes for children and families. The model will be published later this year, and recognises the importance of all persons who play a parenting role in the lives of children and young people.
38. Deputy Marc Ó Cathasaigh asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when parental leave will be expanded in 2022; if the leave will be granted retrospectively; the full entitlement to the leave ultimately and the timeline for the implementation; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15456/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraUnder the Parent’s Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended), working parents are entitled to five weeks of paid parent's leave for each relevant parent, as defined in the legislation, to be taken in the first two years after the birth or adoptive placement of a child.
Provision has been made in Budget 2022 to increase the number of weeks of Parent’s Leave and Benefit available to eligible parents from five weeks to seven weeks from July 2022. This will be introduced by way of Regulation as provided for under the Parent's Leave and Benefit Act 2019 (as amended).
It has been decided that the additional two weeks' leave and benefit will apply to parents of children who are under the age of two in July 2022 (or adoptive children who have been with their parents for less than two years at that point).
A date for the commencement of the extension is not yet available as the practical arrangements for the payment of Parent's Benefit are being finalised with the Department of Social Protection.
39. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the number of children who received a family support service in the Tusla Louth Meath area in 2021; the Tusla family support provision and the commissioned community and voluntary sector partners in the area; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15374/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides family support services both directly and by commissioning family support services through its community and voluntary sector partners.
In 2021, funding of €2,563,709.57 was provided to 19 family support services in the Tusla Louth Meath area. These 19 organisations are:
1. Cox's Demense Youth & Community Project
2. Crann Support Group
3. Dundalk Counselling Centre
4. Empowerment Plus
5. EXTERN
6. Ifca/Irish Fostercare Association North East Region
7. ISPCC
8. Lifestyle Moving On
9. Navan Springboard (Meath Springboard)
10. Barnardos
11. Daughters Of Charity
12. Navan Travellers Workshop
13. Women's Aid Dundalk Ltd.
14. Drogheda Lifestart
15. Youth Advocate Programmes
16. Connect FRC
17. Kells Family Resource Centre CLG
18. Trim Family Resource Centre Ltd
19. Louth Leader Partnership (GENESIS)
Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) are collaborative networks of community, voluntary and statutory providers established by Tusla to improve access to support services for children and their families. Each network consists of services that play a role in the lives of children and families in that area. There are two CFSNs in Co. Louth and two in Co. Meath.
Tusla also directly supports family support services through structures including Family Resource Centres (FRCs) and the Area Based Childhood Programme.
€643,331 was provided to the Louth Leader Partnership (GENESIS) for prevention and early intervention services for children and families under the Area Based Childhood Programme.
In 2021, €572,808 was allocated to four FRCs in the Louth Meath area in core funding under the Family Resource Centre Programme. These four FRCs were:
1. Connect Family Resource Centre (€152,090.00)
2. Kells FRC (€118,328.00)
3. Trim FRC (€142,390.00)
4. Crann Support Group CLG/ East Coast FRC (€160,000.00)
Overall in Louth/Meath, 1,509 children received a family support service in 2021.
40. Deputy Holly Cairns asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will ensure that all children and families in direct provision being moved from congregated hotel-style living are housed in own-door or independent living accommodation as close as possible to the community in which they have been residing. [15452/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraAs set out in A White Paper to End Direct Provision and to Establish a New International Protection Support Service, my department is currently working on implementing a new model of accommodation and supports for International Protection applicants.
Under the new model, an applicant for International Protection will initially be accommodated in one of six new Integration and Reception Centre. Accommodation in a Reception and Integration Centres will be own-door for families and own-room for single people, with specific tailoring for people with identified vulnerabilities. These centres will be newly built and be operated by not-for-profit organisations on behalf of the State.
Residents will remain in the centres for a maximum of four months - where they will undergo a programme of orientation, support and integration. Once the four month programme is complete, if the applicant has not received a positive first-instance decision on their application, or is undergoing an appeals process, they will transition from a Reception and Integration Centre to a house, apartment or own room in the community. This new approach will end congregated and institutional living and will focus on supporting integration from day one.
In the interim, a request for tender has been issued by my Department seeking additional accommodation for applicants for international protection which enables families to be accommodated in independent living options. This tender is a key plank in the strategy to end the current reliance on emergency accommodation. The aim is to ensure that all families in the international protection process are accommodated in independent living options once they have completed the initial reception process.
41. Deputy Thomas Gould asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he has engaged with the Minister for Health and the Minister for Education to improve the level of support offered to children with disabilities. [15333/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department provides services to children with disabilities through the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM). AIM is a programme of supports designed to enable children with a disability to access and meaningfully participate in the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme. The goal of AIM is to create a more inclusive environment in pre-schools, so all children, regardless of ability, can benefit from quality early learning and care. The model achieves this by providing universal supports to pre-school settings, and targeted supports, which focus on the needs of the individual child, without requiring a diagnosis of disability.
In addition to the specific services my Department delivers for children with disabilities, my Department co-ordinates the National Disability Inclusion Strategy (NDIS) which is whole-of-government strategy for policy and action to address the needs of persons with disabilities in Ireland and support effective progress in delivering on the obligations set out in the UN Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) which Ireland ratified in 2018. This process allows for robust and ongoing consultation and cooperation between Departments.
I chair the NDIS Steering Group and one of the focuses of that Strategy, alongside the Comprehensive Employment Strategy (CES), is improving transitions across state services, including for children. In that regard, both the NDIS and CES involve extensive input from officials in the Departments of Health and Education. Minister of State Anne Rabbitte T.D. also engages regularly with relevant Ministers to highlight the needs of children with disabilities.
In November 2021, Ireland submitted its first State Report to the UN Committee on CRPD. As part of preparations for this and other UN processes such as the UNCRC and the Universal Periodic Review, a specific consultation was held with children with disabilities, to ensure their voice was heard.
42. Deputy Ruairí Ó Murchú asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans for early intervention and family supports in County Louth; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15373/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraTusla, the Child and Family Agency, provides early intervention and family support services, through both internal Tusla family support provision and the commissioning of services through its community and voluntary sector partners.
Under the Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme, 121 Child and Family Support Networks (CFSNs) have been set up across the country. The networks help to support integrated and co-ordinated supports for children, young people and families at local community level. Members of CFSNs come from a variety of agencies and local community and voluntary services such as primary care, social work, early years services, sports clubs, youth probation services, schools, etc. There are two of these networks in County Louth. CFSNs also facilitate the coordination of the use of Meitheal, the Tusla-led early intervention national practice model that identifies a child’s and their families’ needs and strengths, and brings together a team around the child to deliver preventative support.
Tusla will continue to provide services in Louth via its Prevention, Partnership and Family Support Programme. This includes Tusla’s family support teams, its child and family support network coordinators and Springboard family support service. Tusla will also continue to support and fund commissioned family support services in Louth.
Tusla is currently working as part of the Children Services Strategy Group with its partners in Northern Ireland to submit an application under the Peace Plus funding stream which is likely to include family support. Tusla continues to work and support the MACE project (which was under the previous cross border funding stream) which focuses on services and interventions for children who have experienced multiple adverse experiences.
Tusla has worked with partners and stakeholders to develop a parenting plan for Louth Meath and also has a number of initiatives that are being supported via the Louth Children and Young People’s Services Committee (CYPSC) such as Trauma Informed Training. Tusla is an active member of the Drogheda Implementation Board which has a Family Support, Children, Young People and Education Subgroup which is focusing on the needs of children and young people in the Drogheda area.
Tusla will continue to provide early intervention and family support services in Co. Louth, based on local needs identified by the Tusla local Area Manager.
43. Deputy Brian Leddin asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he intends to follow the model utilised in New Zealand to outlaw conversion therapy; when he expects to be in a position to legislate in this State; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15358/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Programme for Government contains a commitment to legislate to end the practice of conversion therapy, an objective I strongly support.
In addition, the LGBTI+ National Youth Strategy 2018 – 2021 contains a commitment to prohibit the promotion or practice of conversion therapy by health professionals in Ireland, and the National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019 - 2022 commits to ensuring that the practice is investigated and followed up with appropriate counter measures.
My Department developed a scoping paper on research into conversion therapy in February 2021. This paper comprised a literature overview and a high level examination of the banning of conversion therapy internationally, along with any evidence in Ireland of conversion therapy practices.
In May 2021 I established a sub-committee of the LGBTI+ National Inclusion Strategy Steering Committee to examine the scoping paper developed by my Department, and to agree the next steps in progressing commitments relating to researching, and prohibiting the practice of conversion therapy.
My Department recently commissioned research aimed at capturing the views and experiences of people who have been subjected to the practice of conversion therapy in Ireland. A Request for Quotation issued on 16 November 2021 and the research commenced in February 2022. This qualitative research will be completed by summer 2022, and will assist the Government in developing legislation to ban the practice of conversion therapy. I am open, of course, also to looking at international good practice in this regard.
44. Deputy Joe Flaherty asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his views on measures undertaken by his Department to tackle child and youth homelessness; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15311/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe primary responsibility for housing and managing homelessness lies with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage and the local authorities. This responsibility includes the accommodation needs of young persons leaving all forms of State care.
Policy responsibility for homeless young people, insofar as it extends to my Department, relates to children under 18 and any child welfare and protection concerns that may arise in the context of the Child Care Act 1991. Children under 16 who present as being homeless to emergency services are taken into care by the Child and Family Agency. Children aged 16 and 17 may be taken into care, or provided with accommodation under section 5 of the Child Care Act 1991.
My Department also has responsibility for after care provision, for young people leaving care. Currently, those care-leavers who are at risk of homeless are assisted by the Child and Family Agency, in partnership with other Government Departments or agencies. This includes finding accommodation in supported lodgings, sheltered housing, or facilitating independent living. Since 2017, care-leavers have also been included as a separate category for funding under the Capital Assistance Scheme (CAS). This scheme provides targeted assistance to the most vulnerable care leavers by enabling Approved Housing Bodies (AHBs) to acquire residential units to accommodate them.
While the Minister for Housing, Local Government and Heritage has ultimate responsibility for managing homelessness, my Department is committed to addressing homelessness as part of a whole-of-Government response including contributing to the development of a Youth Homeless Strategy. My Department is leading and co-ordinating consultations with representatives of young people experiencing homelessness and most at risk of homelessness so that their voices are heard and their needs properly reflected in the action plan developed as part of the strategy.
The findings of the consultation with young people experiencing homelessness will additionally inform the development of the successor framework to Better Outcomes, Brighter Futures which is currently being developed by my Department.
45. Deputy Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth his plans to reduce the costs of childcare for ordinary families. [14666/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraSignificant steps are being taken to support families with the costs of early learning and childcare.
The National Childcare Scheme (NCS) is currently supporting thousands of families to offset these costs. A recent review of the NCS showed that:
- 38% of families reported that half or more of their early learning and childcare costs were covered by the NCS;
- 56% reported that they had more money to spend; and
- 28% reported that they were working more (with 8% reporting they would not be in work without the NCS).
I recognise however that the burden on some families remains high and we need to do more to ensure affordability.
The recommendations of an Expert Group to develop a new funding model for early learning and childcare were adopted by Government in December. This new funding model marks a new departure in State funding of the sector and is a significant step towards ensuring high-quality, affordable, sustainable and accessible services.
An essential and top priority for the Funding Model Expert Group was to make recommendations for a mechanism to control fee rates for different types of provision for early learning and childcare.
There are four specific recommendations on fee management, including the introduction of a fee freeze in the first instance, improvements to price comparability, and developments to the fee management system further to the assessment of cost data.
Fee management will start with a requirement of providers not to increase fees on September 2021 levels. The fee management system will be further developed in subsequent years, informed by income and cost data analysis.
The Expert Group made a further three specific recommendations on affordability, including amendments to the NCS and further development of subsidies linked to household income and expenditure or other criteria.
The Expert Group report informed the transformative package of measures for the sector committed to in Budget 2022, including the new €221 million Core Funding stream. Core Funding will operate from September 2022 to support improved quality, affordability, and sustainability.
Core Funding will have a contractual requirement that fees are not greater than September 2021 levels. This feature of the scheme will ensure that parents feel the full affordability benefits of the NCS and the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme.
Budget 2022 also introduced two changes to the NCS:
- Extension of the NCS universal subsidy to all children under 15 from September 2022, benefitting up to 40,000 children.
-Discontinuation of the practice of deducting hours spent in pre-school or school from the entitlement to NCS subsidised hours from spring 2022, benefitting an estimated 5,000 children from low income families
Since the start of the pandemic, my Department has been aiming to ensure the sustainability of services and prevent the additional costs from public health measures being passed on to parents. ELC and SAC employers will continue to benefit from the exemption to the turnover rule for the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme (EWSS) until April 2022.
In advance of the introduction of Core Funding, a Transition Fund will be available to providers, contingent on an agreement not to increase fees from September 2021 levels. This fund will operate from the end of the Employment Wage Subsidy Scheme until the introduction of Core Funding.
Government has approved the recommendations of the Expert Group. Core Funding and the changes to NCS introduced in Budget 2022 begin the implementation of many of these wide ranging recommendations. Implementation will be further progressed in the coming years as additional funding is secured through the annual Estimates process.
The fee management system, in tandem with developments to the NCS will together deliver improved affordability for families.
46. Deputy Alan Dillon asked the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the details of the recently opened communities integration fund 2022; the work that is being carried out to ensure awareness of the fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15458/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraThe Communities Integration Fund arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which calls for funding to be made available to local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees. Since its inception in 2017, the Communities Integration Fund has supported local communities nationwide with grant funding totalling €2.76m.
Now in its sixth year, the Communities Integration Fund celebrates the rich cultural diversity within local communities and enables local community-based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of migrants.
€500,000 will be made available through the 2022 funding call and successful organisations stand to receive grant funding of €1,000 – €5,000 to support local integration initiatives. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis, and organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations and schools.
The open call for proposals was announced through a press release on 10 March 2022 and will run until 6 April 2022. The call has been promoted through the Department’s social media accounts, and information has been disseminated through the Migrant Integration Strategy Monitoring and Coordination Committee’s stakeholder network.
Further information, including the application form, can be found at:
ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/CommunitiesIntegrationFund2022
