From Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth
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• €1,500,000 will be made available to community based organisations to carry out integration projects at a national, regional or local level to support the integration of International Protection Applicants.
• Grants of €30,000 to €100,000 will be allocated to successful Scheme A integration initiatives.
• Grants of €2,000 to €10,000 will be allocated to successful Scheme B integration initiatives.
The Minister of State for Integration, Joe O’Brien, today approved €1,500,000 in funding under the International Protection Integration Fund 2024.
Now in its third year, the International Protection Integration Fund celebrates rich cultural diversity and enables community based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of International Protection Applicants. Successful Scheme A organisations stand to receive grant funding of €30,000 – €100,000 to support large scale integration projects. Successful Scheme B organisations stand to receive grant funding of €2,000 – €10,000 to support smaller integration initiatives.
Minister Joe O’Brien said:
"The less reported stories these days relate to the literally hundreds of communities over the last two years that have welcomed International Protection Applicants to their locality. I was glad that last year we were able to support such efforts with this fund and I’m eager to get that support out again to communities this year as soon as possible."
How to apply:
Applicants can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form at the following links:
The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 pm on 6 March 2024.
The IPIF 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. A total budget of €5 million was established with a minimum annual allocation of €500,000 to be paid out over the course of the project.
Since its inception in 2022, the International Protection Integration Fund has supported 137 projects with grant funding totalling €2.8m.
Purpose of projects/activities
This call is open to community based organisations and centres around 6 key themes to support the integration of International Protection Applicants:
• Employment
• Educational Awareness
• Language
• Civic and Legal Supports
• Health and Wellbeing
• Intercultural Awareness
• Children and Young People
• Transportation
• LGBTQI+
As this Fund is intended to support the integration of International Protection Applicants, including both adults and children. IP applicants should therefore be the primary target group for all submissions. While other individuals may benefit from the project, IP applicants must encompass the vast majority of participants in a project.
The table below outlines definitions of IP applicants, Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection, and Programme Refugees:
| International Protection Applicants | International Protection applicants are persons who have sought asylum in Ireland and are awaiting a decision on their protection claim. There is a statutory obligation on the State to examine the claims of all persons seeking protection and to provide accommodation and supports in line with the Recast and Reception Conditions Directive (SI 230 of 2018) |
| Beneficiaries of Temporary Protection (BOTP | Under the terms of the EU Temporary Protection Directive (European Council Directive 2001/55/EC), those fleeing the conflict in Ukraine are eligible for temporary protection in Ireland and are thus entitled to access a range of State supports and services. This may include either Ukrainian nationals or people from other countries who were resident in Ukraine before the start of the conflict on 24 February 2022. |
| Programme Refugees | Persons who participate in the Irish Refugee Resettlement Programme are known as ‘Programme Refugees’. Under this Programme, persons who have continued fear of war or persecution are granted asylum abroad and are subsequently resettled in Ireland as permanent residents. |