Keira Keogh (Mayo, Fine Gael)
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139. To ask the Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality the steps his Department is taking to protect minority communities from discrimination; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [68172/25]

Colm Brophy (Dublin South West, Fine Gael)
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The Government is determined to stamp out hate-motivated crimes and to protect minority communities. This is being actively achieved through legislation, policy and the provision of supports.

As the Deputy will be aware, certain protections from discrimination are under the remit of other Ministers, for example in the areas of employment and equal status law and policy.

Insofar as my Department is concerned, the Criminal Justice (Hate Offences) Act 2024 came into effect at the start of this year. The new legislation provides for increased prison sentences for certain crimes, where they are proven to be motivated by hatred, or where hatred is demonstrated based on the identity of the victims.

Every hate crime reported to An Garda Síochána is professionally and thoroughly investigated and victims supported during the criminal justice process.

An Garda Síochána has an extensive network of nearly 600 trained Garda Diversity Officers who can engage with communities and individuals on a daily basis to provide them with re-assurance and address issues of concern for them. Gardaí also actively engage with representative and advocacy groups to support minority and diverse communities in Ireland.

On a policy level, Ireland’s National Action Plan Against Racism (NAPAR) represents a national level, State-led, co-ordinated approach to eliminating racism in all its forms in Ireland. It is intended that the actions will have a significant positive impact on all minority ethnic communities and faith-based groups.

In addition to the above, the Department administers a series of funds to support anti-racism and integration initiatives in sectors and communities across the country.

I am delighted to announce today that 37 projects are set to receive over €1.5m in funding under the Ireland Against Racism Fund 2025, ensuring that both local and national organisations can carry out valuable and much-needed projects to promote cohesion and equality across our communities.

The Integration Fund supports organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, regional or local level. Organisations eligible to apply include local community groups, charities, faith-based groups, formal and informal schools and cultural organisations.

The Fund combines two previously run funds – the International Protection Integration Fund (IPIF) and the Communities Integration Fund (CIF). Since their inception, both funds have provided close to €10m in funding to over 1,000 projects across the country, and 2025 awards were recently announced.

Finally, the Programme for Government 2025 provides a commitment to developing a new Migration and Integration Strategy for Ireland, detailing how we intend to meet the demands and the opportunities facing our society and economy over the next decade. Work is well advanced on this project, with a view to the Strategy being launched next year.