Grants totalling €13 million have been made available across the country by Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Integration, Immigration and Equality, David Stanton and An Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality Frances Fitzgerald TD.
“I was pleased to announce with my colleague, An Tánaiste Frances Fitzgerald TD, these new funding streams for gender equality and migrant integration. In East Cork, SECAD will receive almost €300,000 in funding under the gender equality stream to promote and support women’s entrepreneurship.
“Other groups in Cork to receive funding are NASC who will receive €200,000 under the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund, Cork City Partnership and IRD Duhallow Ltd who will receive €202,467 and €289,049 respectively under the Gender Equality Women Returning to Work Fund. Ballyhoura Development CLG will receive €316,552 for an initiative to promote healthcare employment opportunities for women.
“SECAD’s award of €299,794 to develop a Women’s Rural Entrepreneurship Network is very welcome. There is still some way to go to achieving gender equality in the workforce. Women continue to have lower overall levels of participation in the workforce, are often paid less, have less access to senior positions and are also less likely to open their own business. I would hope that with financial and mentoring assistance from SECAD, women living in more rural areas of South and East Cork will be supported and encouraged to set up and manage their own businesses.
“Total funding of over €1.3 million is being made available to groups in Cork County and I am confident that it will allow them all to expand and build on the existing supports and services they offer in their communities.
ENDS
Contact: David Stanton TD; Tel: 021432867; http://stanton.ie
Notes for Editors
€4.5 million is being made available over three years under the European Union Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). This funding is targeted at initiatives to promote the integration of non-EU migrants and to combat discrimination and racism.
Under the European Social Fund, €3.3 million is being made available over four years for projects that will increase the employability of migrants who may be experiencing barriers to entering the labour market here.
Funding of €4 million over three years is being made available under the European Social Fund for initiatives targeted at women who are currently detached from the labour market, but wish to take up paid employment. €1.2 million is being made available for projects to support women’s entrepreneurship.
All funded projects must contribute to the achievement of the objectives and spending commitments set out in Ireland’s National Plan AMIF (published on www.integration.ie) and the relevant ESF Activity Implementation Plans (published on www.esf.ie).
For more information, contact the EU Funds Unit of the Department of Justice and Equality, info@eufunds.justice.ie .