Bernard Durkan (Kildare North, Fine Gael)
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307. To ask the Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth the extent to which he continues to promote integration in all circumstances throughout Ireland; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [43871/24]

Roderic O'Gorman (Dublin West, Green Party)
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The Programme for Government committed to developing a successor to the Migrant Integration Strategy, which concluded in 2021. My Department is currently developing a new national strategy which will build on the momentum of its predecessor and address ongoing and emerging needs in supporting and promoting migrant integration in Ireland. It is intended to publish the new strategy in Q2 2025.

A public consultation to inform the strategy closed on November 30, 2023. The consultation aimed to collect insights into the migrant experience in Ireland, and to understand the needs, challenges and opportunities for integration in the future. My Department is currently concluding a second phase of consultation, comprising targeted consultations with migrant communities under-represented in the public consultation.

Together with the Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage (DHLGH), the County and City Management Association (CCMA), and the Local Government Management Agency (LGMA), a new Local Integration Model has been created. The model focuses on a new nationwide network of Local Authority Integration Teams (LAITs), each of which will be situated in a Local Authority and supported by my Department. In order to better assist IP applicants, Program Refugees, and Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTPs) in utilizing current resources and eventually living independently in the community, these teams will offer ongoing assistance.

Funding Programmes

Several funding programmes have been made available in order to support integration in Ireland.

The National Integration Fund (NIF), which is available to regional and national organisations, aims to assist communities throughout Ireland in taking on a larger role in fostering migrant integration. Over the course of the project, awards may total up to €200,000, with a minimum yearly grant value of €25,000 being eligible for application.

The Communities Integration Fund (CIF) has been in place since 2017 and arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy. Annually, grant funding of €1,000 to €5,000 is made available for local integration initiatives. Since its inception, the CIF has supported over 930 projects, with grant funding totalling €4.32 million.

The International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) is intended to support communities across Ireland so that they can play a greater role in promoting the integration of IP applicants. There are two funding schemes available to applicants, grants ranging from €30,000 to €100,000 are made available under Scheme A to support large scale integration projects and grants ranging for €2,000 to €10,000 are made available under Scheme B to support smaller integration initiatives.

The Ireland Against Racism Fund 2024 (IARF) was launched on October 17^th . The fund of €1.1 million will be made available to 28 NGOs and community organisations. 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 Children and Young People's Services Committees Fund was introduced in 2023 and continued in 2024 to support Children and Young People's Services Committees (CYPSC) in further developing, enhancing and expanding the provision of their support services to children, young people and their families in IPAS settings.

Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) : Funds Administration Unit of 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 IP applicants, Programme Refugees, BOTPs and other third country nationals arriving in Ireland. The 2023 AMIF granted €10 million to 17 successful initiatives that will support third-country nationals with reception and integration over a four-year period.

The Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) EIST 2021-2027 Program is likewise overseen by the Funds Administration Unit. This activity is intended for legally resident migrants who face obstacles to employment and engagement due to social exclusion, lack of skills, or language challenges. The goal of the activity is to improve each participant's employability. The following are the particular groups of people that this activity is aimed at:

• EEA Nationals who are resident in Ireland
• Third-Country Nationals (TCN) with permission to enter employment in Ireland, including Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection.