Holly Cairns (Cork South West, Social Democrats)
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541. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth what funding opportunities are available for sports clubs to integrate children and young people resident in direct provision centres, including funding for transport; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [15494/23]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department provides some €73 million in current funding to support a range of youth services and opportunities which are delivered by youth organisations. This includes €46.3m for UBU Your Place Your Space which is a single youth funding scheme that targets disadvantaged young people with evidence informed interventions and services that will secure good outcomes. This includes marginalised young people such as immigrants (or migrants).

Earlier this year my Department launched the Communities Integration Fund (CIF) for 2023 where €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects nationwide to support the integration of migrants. Within the CIF, grants of up to €5,000 will be allocated to successful organisations to support integration initiatives.

The press release launched by the Department on 15 February 2023 provided detailed information on where applicants can source guidance on accessing this fund through the Gov.ie website under the Community Integration section.

For each of the past six years a total of €500,000 has been made available to local community based organisationsto carry out integration projects in their local area.

In addition, on 24 January 2023, Minister Joe O'Brien 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 first of its 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.

An example of transport from an IPAS accommodation centre is Clonakilty Lodge, where there is a bus available every Friday to Cork City Centre leaving at 9.30 and returning at 3.30 from Cork City Centre. Residents must advise the Manager that they wish to use the bus and then the necessary arrangements are made.