Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 8 July 2025
664. Deputy Ken O'Flynn asked the Minister for Justice, Home Affairs and Migration whether he intends to ring-fence any specific funding for integration support measures within the justice sector or its affiliated agencies following the assumption of responsibility for immigration and integration; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [37742/25]
Amharc ar fhreagraMy Department runs a number of funding schemes under which the budgets are ringfenced for migrant integration in Ireland.
This year, €3.5 million has been ringfenced for the 2025 Integration Fund, which was launched on 3 July, and remains open for applications until 31 July. The Integration Fund combines the two funds previously known as the International Protection Integration Fund and the Communities Integration Fund. More information on this fund and how to apply is available at: www.gov.ie/integrationfund
Separately, the National Integration Fund (NIF) is a multi-annual funding call which supports 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.
NIF 2023 results were announced in April 2024, with 18 projects being awarded grants with a combined total of over €2.8 million over a three-year period. The next iteration of NIF is intended to be announced in 2026.
The Department also manages two EU funding schemes aimed at migrant integration. Firstly, the Department is the managing authority for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
AMIF provides a range of supports for international protection applicants, programme refugees, Beneficiaries Of Temporary Protection and other third country nationals arriving in Ireland.
Last year, the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, which at the time was managing authority for AMIF in Ireland, awarded €10 million to 17 successful projects arising from an Open Call for Proposals to fund projects providing reception and integration supports to third country nationals for a four-year period.
The second EU funding scheme to assist migrants is the Integration and Employment of Migrants stream of the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) 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, seven projects were approved total funding of €2.7m for a three-year period under this programme. These projects are scheduled to conclude later in 2025, when a new round of funding will be announced.
