Kathleen Lynch (Cork North Central, Labour) | Oireachtas source

Yes. For the current year, the amount for the refugee and integration funds was €1.5 million. The provision for the return fund - this relates to people who wish to voluntarily return to their own countries - was €720,000 in 2012. We are assuming that the amounts for next year will be similar, but we do not know because the budget process has yet to be concluded. A clearer picture will emerge at a later date. The significant aspect of this matter concerns the projects which can be undertaken within the voluntary sector. Up until now, it would have been necessary to have 30% of the money up front in order to obtain matching funding. Given that it is increasing to 90%, a project might only need to raise 5% and would still manage to obtain the additional funding.