Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 146: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his policy function on integration. [16007/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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Under the Equality, Integration, Disability and Human Rights (Transfer of Departmental Administration and Ministerial Functions) Order 2011 (S.I. No. 139 of 2011), the functions of the Minister for Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs in regard to the promotion of the integration of persons (other than protection applicants) who are not, or who previously were not, Irish citizens, and their families, who are lawfully resident in the State, were transferred to me as Minister for Justice and Equality.

Eric Byrne (Dublin South Central, Labour)
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Question 147: To ask the Minister for Justice and Equality his budget for the promotion of migrant integration for the year ending 2011; the amount given to programmes from this budget to date; the number of staff working in the office on the promotion of migrant integration; and the specific function of this office. [16008/11]

Alan Shatter (Dublin South, Fine Gael)
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The function of the Office for the Promotion of Migrant Integration is to develop, drive and co-ordinate immigrant integration across Government Departments, agencies and services. In addition, the Office is responsible for the resettlement of programme refugees and persons admitted to Ireland on foot of Government decision.

The non-pay allocation for the Office in the 2011 Revised Estimates for Public Services is €2.796 million. (Subhead F. 7 of the Community, Equality and Gaeltacht Affairs Vote.) This covers non-pay administrative expenditure as well as programme expenditure. In addition, €1.5 million is allocated for expenditure from the European Refugee Fund and the European Integration Fund. (Subhead F. 8 in the above-mentioned Vote.) Grants of €162,900 have been paid from Subhead F. 7 and €566,610 has been charged to F. 8 in respect of payments to Pobal which is the delegated authority for these European Funds. Decisions on other expenditure will be taken in due course.

There are 17 staff in the Office, of whom 6 are in the resettlement area.