Paul Gogarty (Dublin Mid West, Green Party)
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Question 146: To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the projects and initiatives that have received funding under the €5 million provided in July 2006 for integration related projects for newcomers to Ireland; the amount that these projects have been allocated; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36337/06]

Michael McDowell (Dublin South East, Progressive Democrats)
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Since my announcement of a special €5M Integration Fund to help integrate legally- resident immigrants, my Department has established a variety of schemes and initiatives for its effective dispersal. A total of €2M has been allocated to local partnerships working on locally-based initiatives and a further €1M to national and regional NGOs working in the relevant area. The funding is being distributed through Pobal who are at an advanced stage of project selection with final decisions expected over the next few weeks.

A further €.9M is being used to accelerate the implementation of the National Action Plan against Racism. While no final decision have been taken at individual project level, this part of the funding is being focussed on the promotion of integration through sport, publicity initiatives and research on the management of cultural diversity in the workplace. It is expected that specific project allocations will be made by the end of the year.

The balance of the Fund (€1.1M) will be used to implement a wide range of initiatives being managed by the Reception and Integration Agency (RIA) which is now part of the new Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service of my Department. A total of €96,920 has been allocated to two specific projects to date: €25,000 in support of the EPIC programme — an employment-based initiative and €71,920 for a parish-based integration programme being run by the Inter-Church Committee on Social Issues. However, as with the Pobal and NAPR aspects of the fund, the selection of detailed projects are, in the main, currently being finalised and decisions are expected over the next few weeks. The Deputy may wish to be made aware however of the general nature of the projects which are being funded. These include:

Ongoing processes and initiatives associated with the increased quota of resettlement refugees

International co-operation on selected refugee issues

A "small grants" scheme (up to €15,000 per project) for integration initiatives being managed by RIA

Research on the development of a national English language policy for newcomers

Research on an effective approach to language interpretation for newcomers

Final project funding details will be made public as soon as they are available.