From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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Minister Of State Joe O’Brien with 3 of the successful groups: Sanctuary Runners, Cairde, and Empower.
The Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, today announced the 70 projects set to receive €1,200,776 in funding under the International Protection Integration Fund 2023. The Fund helps enable community based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of International Protection applicants at local and national level.
The International Protection Integration Fund, now in its second year, supports chapter 5.2.2 of the commitments within 'A White Paper to End Direct Provision and Establish a New International Protection Support Service'. In the white paper, the government committed to developing a community integration fund for International Protection applicants.
Since its inception in 2022 the International Protection Integration Fund has supported 137 projects with grant funding totalling €2.8 million.
Welcoming the announcement, Minister O’Brien said:
“The International Protection Integration Fund is a significant tool to assist civil society organisations with their invaluable work on helping to integrate people who come to Ireland seeking International Protection. The importance of this work with people who are at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives is crucial and every day we see the positive impact that civil society organisations make in helping to foster diverse and vibrant communities whilst supporting individuals. I am delighted to be able to award funding today to 70 different projects across Ireland for the development of such vital work."
The International Protection Integration Fund 2023 Funding Call for proposals ran from 26 April 2023 – 24 May 2023. Over €1.2 million has been made available in 2023 to support International Protection Integration projects through grant funding of up to €20,000 per successful project.
This level of funding has been made available in 2023 as a targeted measure and parity funding may not be available in future editions of the fund.
The call for proposals was grouped under 6 key themes to support the integration of International Protection Applicants:
Projects supporting the following objectives were given special priority and attained additional marks during the assessment process:
Successful applicants were asked to demonstrate how their proposed project will build links between International Protection applicants and their host communities, encouraging meaningful integration that benefits the community as a whole.
As this fund is intended to support the integration of International Protection Applicants, including both adults and children. International Protection Applicants are the primary target group for all successful projects. While other individuals may benefit from the project, International Protection Applicants will encompass the vast majority of participants in each project.
