Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

294. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide a schedule of additional supports, resources and funding for the towns of Leixlip, Celbridge and Maynooth; if he will liaise with his colleagues in the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media and the Department of Education regarding the provision of extracurricular and recreational activities for persons here seeking international protection. [5968/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

Deputy, there are currently 581 international protection applicants being accommodated in the 7 IPAS locations in Kildare, 97 of whom are children.  This number represents 3% of the total number of people in IPAS accommodation nationwide. 

On 24 January 2023, Minister Joe O'Brien T.D. launched the €50 million Community Recognition Fund which is a major initiative to support communities that have welcomed people from Ukraine and other countries.

The fund will provide assistance to sports clubs, community organisations, transport infrastructure and local groups and is the fist of it's kind designed to specifically support communities across the country that have welcomed and are hosting families and citizens from Ukraine and other countries.

Among the projects that will be supported under the fund include:

- the refurbishment of local sports clubs and facilities;

- the upgrade of community facilities such as play areas, walkways, parks and community gardens;

- the purchase of equipment to benefit local clubs, festivals, music and arts organisations;

- the enhancement of school or parish facilities that are open to the wider community after hours or on weekends;

- transport infrastructure such as community vehicles and bus shelters.

The €50 million has been allocated across all local authorities based on the number of new arrivals located there and will be drawn down over 2023 and 2024. 

Projects will be delivered by the local authorities in conjunction with community organisations. 

The Fund aims to support the development of facilities that will be used in the future by all members of the community. 

The funding will empower communities whilst delivering tangible benefits to communities all across Ireland.

Applications are now being sought from local authorities on the basis of engagement with local communities and clear targeting of proposed projects to areas with the highest level of need.

The allocation to Co. Kildare is €807,328.

Over the past year, communities across Ireland have demonstrated great solidarity and welcome for those who come here seeking refuge. My Department will continue to liaise with the Department of Education and Skills and the Department of Tourism, Culture, Arts, Gaeltacht, Sport and Media in regard to the services offered by those Departments in supporting the provision of extracurricular and recreational activities for persons here seeking international protection and welcomes their input into programmes and projects that assist in integrating new arrivals into their community. 

I trust this clarifies the matter.

Catherine Murphy (Kildare North, Social Democrats)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

295. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth if he will provide the amount provided for in Communities Integration Fund in 2023; the way in which this fund can be accessed; if the fund provides for the provision of spaces that is, use of locations for education and English language lessons for persons seeking international protection. [5969/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
Link to this: Individually | In context | Oireachtas source

The Communities integration Fund 2023 will be launched in the coming weeks.

A total of €500,000 is available to local community based organisations to carry out integration projects in their local area. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, sports clubs, faith-based groups, arts groups, cultural organisations, and schools. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis.

The call for submissions will be open for over four weeks. During this time applications can be made through the EU Survey website. A link to the application form will be published, along with a guidance note for applicants, when the call is launched.

The funding can be used for both once-off initiatives and short to medium term projects. Projects should take an inclusive approach, aiming to bring migrants and host communities together.

The maximum amount that may be granted to projects under CIF 2023 is €5,000.

It is likely that the CIF 2023 will contain a number of themes, one of which is likely to be English-language supports.

The funding can be used for the provision of spaces and English language lessons for persons seeking International Protection.

Since its inception in 2017, the Communities Integration Fund has supported over 710 projects with grant funding totalling €3.32m.