Pa Daly (Kerry, Sinn Fein)
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555. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide an update on scheme A funding application (details supplied). [51231/22]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Government is committed to achieving its vision of a safe, fair and inclusive Ireland where people are supported to flourish and to live inclusive, healthy and fulfilling lives, whatever their sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics. Ireland’s first National LGBTI+ Inclusion Strategy 2019-2022, published in November 2019, is the primary policy vehicle to achieve this vision. 

The Strategy pursues objectives under four thematic pillars providing a vision of an Ireland where LGBTI+ people are visible and included, treated equally, healthy and feel safe and supported.  To offset delays in the strategy's implementation due to the public health emergency caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, I extended its lifetime into 2022. Work is continuing this year on the implementation of the strategy. 

My Department is committed to providing ongoing support to the LGBTI+ Community that will enable them to feel safe and supported. During Pride in June, I launched the 2022 LGBTI+ Community Services Funding Call. This Funding Call will support and bolster community services that promote visibility and inclusion of LGBTI+ people. The Funding call was open to organisations and groups operating at national, regional and local level. 

Following direct engagement with LGBTI+ community groups, Scheme A of the Funding Call was expanded to include a ‘core support’ model that was open for larger style projects. The Scheme was also open to applications from existing LGBTI+ NGOs for funding to maintain and enhance existing services and initiatives. This will assist these organisations build capacity and maintain existing and well-established LGBTI+ supports. A robust assessment process is ongoing for all applications and applicants will be informed of the outcome in the coming weeks.