David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael) | Oireachtas source

We are actively working on the migrant integration strategy and I invite Senators and Deputies to read it if they have not done so. It is a living document and if members have suggestions as to how we can add to it or improve it, I would welcome those. The strategy is about integration and addresses anti-racism and a range of actions aimed at precisely what the Deputy is referring to. I chair a working group that oversees work in this area. It includes most Departments along with NGOs, with whom we also work closely. The NGOs are at the coalface dealing with the issues and I have told them that, if they have issues, my door is open to them and I want to know about them first. I invite them to bring any issues they have relating to migration to my attention immediately in order that we can deal with them and sort them out as best and as soon as we can. The strategy takes into account all the issues the Deputy mentioned.

The €4 million is accrued from previous years and the €52.6 million is allocated for the lifetime of the programme, 2014 to 2020. We will lose this funding if we do not go through the process and it is important not to lose it.

The timeframe is tight. We usually have three months but as we are coming close to the end of the year, we have much less time to get it done.