Immigrants' groups critical of funding cut

INTEGRATION:IMMIGRANT AND voluntary groups have strongly criticised the Government's decision to withdraw funding from the State's advisory body on racism and intercultural affairs.

It was announced in the Budget that State funding of the National Consultative Committee on Racism and Interculturalism (NCCRI) is to cease and that some of its functions are to be absorbed by the office of Minister for Integration Conor Lenihan.

The NCCRI has played a prominent role in advising governmental and other bodies, recording racist incidents and co-ordinating research on immigration. Although the body receives one-third of its funding from the EU and research funds, the loss of its €500,000 annual Government grant throws its future and that of its 13 staff into question.

The Community Platform, a network of 27 organisations, said the funding withdrawal was a "very short-sighted measure". The Refugee Information Service said the decision to cut off funding to the NCCRI, as well as the amalgamation of certain functions of the Equality Authority and the Human Rights Commission, may undermine efforts on social inclusion.