Donnchadh Ó Laoghaire (Cork South Central, Sinn Fein)
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312. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the spend on the asylum migration and integration fund for each year since its inception by project and location. [43295/18]

David Stanton (Cork East, Fine Gael)
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Ireland’s National Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) Programme was approved by the European Commission on 21 March 2016. The EU Funds Unit in the Department of Justice and Equality has been designated as Ireland’s Responsible Authority for the AMIF. The funding available to Ireland under the AMIF will be used over the lifetime of the Programme – the eligibility period extends to 2022 – to support actions that will help the National Objectives set out in the National Programme. (Further details of the National Programme, including details of the National Objectives and specific actions set by Ireland can be found at: )

The total AMIF spend managed by the EU Funds Unit is as follows:

The funds are distributed using three mechanisms: Open Calls for Proposals, Direct Awards and by Delegated Authority. AMIF Funding is also used for Technical Assistance activities of the EU Funds Unit.  

Below is an explanation of each of these mechanisms along with details of the spend which has occurred.

Open Call:

In 2016, an Open Call for Proposals was issued and 20 projects were selected from 45 applicants following an appraisal process. Over €4.5 million was committed under this call for the 2017-2020 period.

The projects selected for funding will receive 75% of the eligible project costs. The applicant organisations are required to provide the 25% matching funding.

Direct Awards:

In addition, under the AMIF Commission Delegated Regulation Article 7 – (EU) No. 1042/2014 - The Responsible Authority (EU Funds Unit) may award grants directly. 

To date 4 Direct Award Grants have been made, 3 to the Irish Refugee Protection Programme (to fund local authorities' resettlement programmes for refugees) and 1 to the Reception and Integration Agency. The details and spend are listed below.  The Irish Refugee Protection Programme and the Reception and Integration Agency receive 75% of the eligible project costs (represented below) and are required to provide the 25% matching funding/remainder of the project costs.

Delegated Authority:

The Repatriation Unit of the Irish Naturalisation and Immigration Service has received a delegated authority to manage the portion of the AMIF that relates to the Special Objective on Returns. AMIF funding represents 75% of the Delegated Authority’s spend and the Delegated Authority is required to provide the balance of 25%.

Technical Assistance:

Under the basic acts and regulations governing AMIF 2014-2020, the EU Funds Unit can use AMIF funding to support the preparatory, monitoring, administrative, evaluation, audit and control measures and activities required for it to implement the AMIF regulations successfully.

Further AMIF funding:

It is intended that a further Open Call for Proposals will be announced in early 2019. Approximately €4 million will be available to fund projects, mainly to be delivered by NGOs, for the period 2019 - 2022.