Some €5 million is to be made available to initiatives aimed at helping the integration of migrants, the Minister for Justice said yesterday.
Michael McDowell said the fund would be dispersed among groups working on "key leverage areas" identified by the Department of Justice, including those providing help in employment, language, sport and community activities. "We must move as quickly as possible on our broad integration agenda for the years ahead," he said. "We continue to make good progress with our anti-racist plans, but we need to develop and fund broad integration strategies and measures.
"Real integration takes place at local level and that is why this money is being directed to help those working at the frontline."
Among the main elements of the fund is a grant of €2.8 million for NGOs and local partnerships working on integration. This will be distributed based on project proposals from the sector.
A further €1.14 million will be provided for the integration elements of the National Action Plan Against Racism. Special initiatives costing about €1 million, such as research projects, make up the balance of the fund.
Mr McDowell said that while "considerable challenges" lay ahead in forming a sustainable integration plan, he was confident such targeted funding would "facilitate and indeed accelerate the overall integration process".
The fund is organised by the Reception and Integration Agency, which is part of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service.