Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) was instituted as one of the EU Home Affairs financial instruments for the programme period 2014 to 2020. Each Member State wishing to participate in AMIF must produce a National Programme covering the main areas of the Fund. Ireland’s national programmes for AMIF is focused on specific objectives, including in the areas of asylum, reception, integration, legal migration and the return of irregular migrants.

Ireland’s allocation under AMIF was €55.5mfor the period 2014-2020. The delivery of many AMIF funded projects was impacted by two major international events: the Covid-19 pandemic and the conflict in Ukraine. In response to the influx of refugees fleeing the conflict in Ukraine, the EU agreed to extend the 2014-2020 programme, bringing the programme end-date to June 2024. During the extended period, Member States are permitted to re-deploy unused funds under existing activities to fund activities to support Ukrainian refugees. Redeployed AMIF funding was used to provide urgent support to approved projects to pivot their actions to address the changing situation.

Table 1 “AMIF 2014-2020 Programme Funding Overview” sets out in in tabular form the spending and allocations of the AMIF 2014-2020 national programme up to October 2023.

In March 2022, Ireland opted in to the 2021-2027 Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. Under Ireland’s AMIF 2021-2027 national programme, Ireland will build on the work done under the previous AMIF 2014-2020 programme, and improve its effectiveness where possible. Strong support for the efforts of non-Government actors, particularly with respect to the integration objectives, will continue under the new programme. The programme will also support elements of State-run programmes, both at national and local level, which provide integration measures tailored to the needs of third-country nationals. No spend has been incurred as yet under the AMIF 2021-2027 national programme.

Table 1: AMIF 2014-2020 Programme Funding Overview

-			TOTAL Cumulative Claims 2015-2020*	TOTAL Annual Claim 2021*	TOTAL Annual Claim 2022*	TOTAL Annual Claim 2023**	TOTAL Claim 2015-2023
(All amounts €000s)
Specific objective 1: Asylum
Open Calls	2016	€2,083.45	€2,003.42	€80.03	€ -	€ -	€2,083.45
	2019	€2,357.51	€700.13	€688.72	€495.12	€18.21	€1,902.18
	2022	€1,185.62	€ -			€525.70	€525.70
Total Calls		€5,626.58	€2,703.55	€768.75	€495.12	€543.91	€4,511.33
Direct Awards		€1,827.49	€1,096.06	€204.49	€ -	€ -	€1,300.55
Specific objective 2: Integration/legal migration
Open Calls	2016	€1,866.69	€1,709.23	€26.65	€ -	€ -	€1,735.88
	2019	€2,011.32	€518.95	€496.20	€465.79	€75.05	€1,555.99
	2022	€912.86	€ -	€ -	€ -	€425.71	€425.71
Total Calls		€4,790.87	€2,228.17	€522.85	€465.79	€500.76	€3,717.58
Direct Awards		€1,074.52	€1,051.04	€ -	€ -	€115.32	€1,166.36
Specific objective 3: Return
Returns		€5,650.51	€4,623.57	-€22.72	€237.76	€212.34	€5,050.95
Specific objective 4: Solidarity
Direct Awards		€2,000.00	€1,882.27	€ -	€ -	€ -	€1,882.27
Technical Assistance		€4,051.96	€1,959.73	€145.90	€ -	€1,282.43	€3,388.06
Sub-Total		€25,021.93	€15,544.40	€1,619.26	€1,198.67	€2,654.77	€21,017.10
Special Cases		€30,468.34	€25,278.00	€2,802.00	€ 54.00	€ 228.00	€28,362.00
Total		€55,490.27	€40,822.40	€4,421.26	€1,252.67	€2,882.77	€49,379.10

* AMIF Annual accounts are submitted to EU Commission covering spend for the period of 16th October each year up to 15^thOct. of the following year

** AMIF Accounts to be submitted to EU Commission on 15th March 2024 for financial period 16th October 2022 to 15th October 2023

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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My Department administers a number of funding streams focused on assisting with integration.

The National Integration Fund (NIF) has the goal of supporting communities across Ireland to play a greater role in promoting the integration of migrants, and is open to organisations operating at regional and national level.Approximately €750,000 is committed per year, subject to the availability of funds. Applications have recently closed for the 2023 round of the fund.

Size of grant available	€25,000 to €200,000
No. of applicants	123
Total funding awarded	TBC following assessment of applications

The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) has been in place since 2017 and arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which states: “A Communities Integration Fund will be developed to support actions by local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees”. Grant funding of €1,000 to €5,000 is made available for local integration initiatives. Since its inception, the CIF has supported over 820 projects, with grant funding totalling €3.82 million. CIF 2023 awarded 111 organisations once off grant payments, with a total value of €509,415.

Size of grant available	€1,000 to €5,000
No. of successful applicants	111
Total funding awarded	€509,415

My department launched the Ireland Against Racism Fund (IARF)in 2023. In its first year, the IARF has made €1.3 million available to applicant groups operating at national, regional and local level. IARF has the overall objective of providing funding for national and regional projects, as well as local initiatives, that aim to combat racism and foster racial equality and community cohesion. The results of the 2023 funding call were issued in September. A combined total of 24 national & regional projects were successful.

Size of grant available	Scheme A - €50,000 to €100,000Scheme B - €5,000 to €10,000
No. of successful applicants	24
Total funding awarded	€1,294,291

The International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF)supports communities across Ireland so that they can play a greater role in promoting the integration of International Protection applicants. Annually, a minimum of €500,000 is made available to community-based organisations to carry out integration projects at national, provincial or local level. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, charities, faith-based groups, schools and cultural organisations. Applicant organisations must operate on a not-for-profit basis.

Size of grant available	€5,000 to €20,000
No. of successful applicants	71
Total funding awarded	€1,220,776

The International Decade for People of African Descent (IDPAD) Funding Callwas a once-off funding call held this year to provide funding to support community organisations hosting local, regional and national events to mark and celebrate the Decade. The IDPAD has been planned by the Department in celebration of the ‘International Decade for People of African Descent’, effective through 2015-2024 under resolution 68/237 of the UN General Assembly.

Size of grant available	€1,000 to €5,000
No. of successful applicants	35
Total funding awarded	€169,740

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF): DCEDIY is the Managing Authority of the AMIF Programme in Ireland, for the 2021-2027 National Programme and 2014-2020 National Programme. Under Ireland’s national programmes, it is intended to provide a range of supports for International Protection applicants, Programme Refugees, Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection and other third country nationals arriving in Ireland, ranging from information and assistance with basic needs through to specialist supports in areas such as medical/psychosocial and legal assistance; to delegate and oversee activities via Direct Awards to specialised bodies; and to fund the management of returns of third country nationals to their country of origin, where appropriate.

Table 1 “AMIF 2014-2020 Programme Funding Overview” sets out in in tabular form the spending and allocations of the AMIF 2014-2020 national programme up to October 2023.

Under Ireland’s AMIF 2021-2027 national programme, no spend has been incurred as yet. However, on 20th of October 2023, my Department launched an Open Call for Proposals under this national programme in the amount of €10m, to fund projects providing Reception and Integration supports to third country nationals for a four-year period. The closing date for applicants is 1st December 2023.

Table 1:AMIF 2014-2020 Programme Funding Overview

AMIF 2014-2020 Programme Funding Overview
(All amounts €000s)		Allocation	TOTAL Claim 2015-2023
Specific objective 1: Asylum
Open Calls	2016	€2,083.45	€2,083.45
	2019	€2,357.51	€1,902.18
	2022	€1,185.62	€ 525.70
Total Calls		€5,626.58	€4,511.33
Direct Awards		€1,827.49	€1,300.55
Specific objective 2: Integration/legal migration
Open Calls	2016	€1,866.69	€1,735.88
	2019	€2,011.32	€1,555.99
	2022	€ 912.86	€ 425.71
Total Calls		€4,790.87	€3,717.58
Direct Awards		€1,074.52	€1,166.36
Specific objective 3: Return
Returns		€5,650.51	€5,050.95
Specific objective 4: Solidarity
Direct Awards		€2,000.00	€1,882.27
Technical Assistance		€4,051.96	€3,388.06
Sub-Total		€25,021.93	€21,017.10
Special Cases		€30,468.34	€28,362.00
Total		€55,490.27	€49,379.10

DCEDIY also manages the Integration and Employment of Migrantsstream of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) EIST 2021-2027 Programme. This Activity is aimed at legally resident migrants who are experiencing barriers to participation and employment because of language difficulties, lack of training or social exclusion. In 2022, my Department launched an Open Call for Proposals under the ESF+ EIST 2021-2027 Programme, where 7 projects were approved total funding of €2.7m for a three-year period:

Size of grant available	Minimum €200,000, No maximum
No. of successful applicants	7
Total funding awarded	€2.7m over three years