Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 595: To ask the Minister for Defence the average cost to his Department of answering a parliamentary question. [3859/08]

Willie O'Dea (Limerick East, Fianna Fail)
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In reply to the Deputy's question it has not been possible to quantify the cost of answering parliamentary questions within my Department. However, I will communicate with the Deputy as soon as I have any more information.

Denis Naughten (Roscommon-South Leitrim, Fine Gael)
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Question 596: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the funding to be made available from 1 April 2008 for the fund for integration of immigrants; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3524/08]

Brian Lenihan Jnr (Dublin West, Fianna Fail)
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The Office of the Minister for Integration is responsible for the promotion and coordination of measures to assist in the integration of legally resident immigrants. For obvious and practical reasons it is the primary responsibility of Departments and public authorities — The Health Service executive, local authorities, etc. to take account of the needs of this group of residents in planning and delivering services and making financial provision as required.

The Minister for Integration is glad of this opportunity to place on record his appreciation of the work being done by these bodies, as well as groups in the non Governmental and voluntary sectors. Since his appointment as Minister with responsibility for integration matters he has visited many projects throughout the country and is impressed at the commitment of the various groups and bodies in responding and adapting to the challenges we face in the matter of integration.

In addition to the funding provided by the various bodies 1.2 million euro is available from the European Refugee Fund for the provision of services to asylum seekers and refugees and 1.6 million euro is available from the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals to promote integration at a local level. Applications for funding were recently sought for the above funds through Pobal. Pobal are currently engaged in evaluating the applications made. Further calls for proposals will be advertised under these initiatives later this year or in early 2009. Applications will be sought in the coming months for funding from the European Social Fund to promote employment related initiatives for vulnerable immigrants.

A sum of three million euro has been provided in the Estimates for 2008 to provide funding for integration initiatives. This funding will have a particular emphasis on membership organisations, faith based groups and building local structures. The Office of the Minister for Integration also manages a small grants scheme with funding of 400,000 euro for 2008 that provides grants of up to 15,000 euro to community and voluntary organisations to promote the participation and integration of legally resident immigrants at a local level.