The list of organisations selected for a pay-out from a 5m euro Department of Justice fund for integration work has been released by Pobal, which manages the distribution of the funds. The purpose of the fund is to help “initiate local strategies and actions that will lead to the successful integration of legally resident immigrants and their families into local communities in a manner that embodies a spirit of welcome, mutual accommodation and respect for cultural diversity”.
There were approximately 100 applicants for funding under the scheme, with 22 groups selected, a Pobal spokesperson stated.
The fund is split into two strands – one for area-based partnerships and community partnerships, and another for NGOs (non-government organisations).
The six NGOs selected are: Spiritan Asylum Services Initiative (Spirasi), receiving funding of up to 150,000 euro; Migrant Rights Centre Ireland (up to 115,931 euro); the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre (up to 100,454 euro); Integrating Ireland (up to 130,000 euro); Nasc – the Irish Immigrant Support Centre (up to 105,669 euro); Show Racism the Red Card (up to 94,750 euro); and the Refugee Information Service (up to 89,895 euro).
However, Metro Eireann understands there is disquiet among some ethnic minority applicants that no ethnic minority-led organisation was selected. A number of groups are contacting Pobal for further details on why they were not chosen.
The guidelines to accessing the funding, issued by the Department of Justice and Pobal, state: “No single factor will determine the outcome of any application. A procedure has been put in place by Pobal through which all applications will be assessed and appraised.”
The assessment “may involve a visit/meeting or contact with the applicant” and then “the application plus the assessment will then be considered by an Appraisal Sub-committee of Pobal, which may include external expertise as appropriate...
“On completion of the appraisal procedure, recommendations on each application will be presented to the Pobal board for decision.”
The guidelines say the fund is “not designed to meet core operational or small-scale costs and activities across a wide range of beneficiary organisations...
It is anticipated that there will be a relatively modest number of national or regional organisations funded.” According to the Justice Department, some 3m euro of the total fund is being set aside for NGOs and of this sum, 1m euro is being designated for national and regional organisations working in the sector, under the Fund for Non Government National and Regional Organisations to Support the Integration of Legally Resident Immigrants.
Some 2m euro is being made available for designated Partnership Companies under the Fund for Partnership Initiatives to Support the Integration of Legally Resident Immigrants.
Under the latter strand, the recipients are: the Dublin Inner City Partnership, receiving funding up to 150,000 euro; the Wexford Area Partnership (up to 125,000 euro); Avondhu Development Group (up to 115,123 euro); Ballyhoura Development Limited (up to 119,000 euro); West Cork Community Partnership (up to 90,450 euro); Portlaoise Community Action Project (up to 115,000 euro); Galway City (up to 120,000 euro); Donegal Local Development Company Limited (up to 115,000 euro); Roscommon Partnership Company (up to 105,000 euro); Westmeath Community Development Limited (up to 99,042 euro); the Blanchardstown Area Partnership (funding up to 146,312 euro); West Limerick Resources (funding up to 82,600 euro); Longford Community Resources Limited (funding up to 108,000 euro); Cork City Partnership Limited (funding up to 106,500 euro); and Cavan Partnership Company Limited, with funding up to 105,000 euro.
