Ciarán Cuffe (Dún Laoghaire, Green Party)
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Question 589: To ask the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform the way he will continue the work of combatting racism and promoting integration following the withdrawal of funding for the national consultative committee on racism and interculturalism; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [47904/08]

Conor Lenihan (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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On 1 May, 2008, I published a policy statement, Migration Nation, outlining my policy approach to integration. Following on from that, a number of arrangements are in place with local authorities and national sporting bodies to assist in promoting integration. Funding of €817,000 has been made available to local authorities and €505,000 to sporting bodies and I hope to continue funding of this kind subject to the availability of resources. In addition, my Office is supporting and co-funding with the Equality Authority projects to promote integration in the workplace. IBEC, ICTU, the CIF and Chambers Ireland are also involved in this activity. Funding is also available through the European Refugee Fund, the European Integration Fund and the European Social Fund for measures to promote integration.

I intend to establish a Ministerial Council on Integration. This will (i) advise me on issues facing immigrants, (ii) examine and report on the issues and challenges arising from integration, and (iii) review on a regular basis progress in the field. It is also my intention, subject to the availability of resources, to support worthwhile initiatives to combat racism and manage diversity.