Ivana Bacik (Dublin Bay South, Labour)
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163. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth when he intends to publish the review into the national childcare scheme; the way he plans to implement the recommendations of the review; and if he will implement these recommendations early in 2022. [48518/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The 12 month review of the National Childcare Scheme, as required under Section 26 of the Childcare Support Act 2018, commenced at the end of March 2021. It is an independent assessment of the implementation and impacts of NCS during its first year of operation and will provide key data and information to support the future development of the NCS.

The report is in the final stages of completion by the consultant tasked with the review of the NCS and it is intended that the report will be submitted to the houses of the Oireachtas in Q.4 of this year.

The review was undertaken to provide a basis for my Department to consider how effectively the NCS is operating and whether it delivered on its objectives within the first year.

The review, once completed, will provide an opportunity for my Department and I to consider how the NCS meets its policy objectives, of improved children's outcomes, parental engagement in work or study and reduced child poverty, and support those most in need in the best evidence informed manner.

In considering these matters, my Department will also consider how best to respond to any issues raised and pathways to implementation.

Marc Ó Cathasaigh (Waterford, Green Party)
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164. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the way his Department supports migrant integration; the funding his Department awards in support of community and migrant integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [48199/21]

Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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314. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which his Department has encouraged and promoted integration in all areas throughout the country; the extent of any issues that have arisen; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [49011/21]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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I propose to take Questions Nos. 164 and 314 together.

Since 2017, the ‘Migrant Integration Strategy (MIS) – A Blueprint for the Future’ has been the central policy framework adopted by Government to promote the integration of all migrants who are legally residing in the State.

Coordinated by my Department, the Strategy envisages a whole-of-government approach to enhance diversity, inclusion and equity for migrants across all aspects of Irish society. It brings together State and non-State actors to implement change across 76 targeted actions, including measures to promote social inclusion, to improve access to public services and to address racism and xenophobia.

While initially due to conclude in 2020, the Migrant Integration Strategy was extended to the end of 2021 in recognition of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the Strategy’s implementation. My Department intends to commission an independent evaluation of all equality strategies due to conclude this year, the findings of which will inform the development of the future strategic approach to equality policies. I anticipate that a consultation process to develop a new strategic policy for migrant integration will begin early in 2022.

A number of funding streams have been made available by my Department to support migrants, or persons of migrant origin, to participate on an equal basis with those of Irish heritage.

-National Funding Streams

Under the National Integration Fund 2020, a total of €2.2 million has been made available over a three year period to support 18 integration projects nationwide. These projects aim to increase mutual understanding between local communities and migrants; combat racism and xenophobia; promote the integration of vulnerable or socially-excluded immigrants and encourage the involvement of migrants in sport, volunteering and cultural activities.

In addition, the Communities Integration Fund provides small grant funding (€1,000 - €5,000 per project) to local community-based projects to support migrant integration. Following a competitive open call in 2021, 111 local community-based organisations nationwide have been selected to receive grant funding under the Communities Integration Fund totalling €497,772.

Both the National Integration Fund and Communities Integration Fund arose from actions contained within the Migrant Integration Strategy.

-Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)

In 2016, EU Funds Unit (then part of Department of Justice and Equality, now part of Funds Administration Unit of DCEDIY) ran a call for proposals for migrant integration initiatives. 20 projects were selected, with total funding of €4.5m (75% of project budget, funded by EU under the AMIF 2014-2020 programme) over 3 years. In 2019 a further call for proposals awarded funding of €4.5m (again, 75% of total budget, the balance to be co-funded by the grantee) to 19 projects over 3 years to 30 September 2022.

-European Social Fund (ESF)

In 2016, EU Funds Unit awarded grants totalling €3.3m to 5 projects following a Call for Proposals, to fund migrant employment support initiatives over 4 years. These grant amounts were 50% funded by EU, 50% by Government of Ireland.