Cork East Fine Gael TD and Minister of State for Equality, Immigration & Integration, David Stanton, has announced total national funding of €526,000 for 124 community projects under the Communities Integration Fund 2019. This figure includes once-off funding of €26,000 from the Office of Public Works for art-based integration projects and brings the total amount of funding to date to more than €1.5 million since the fund’s introduction in 2017.

Speaking on confirmation of the 2019 funding, Minister Stanton said: “I am delighted to announce that two Cork East organisations have been successful. Carrigtwohill Family Resource Centre who will receive €4,950 and Cumann na Daoine in Youghal who are to receive €1,750. Carrigtwohill Family Resource Centre and Cumann na Daoine both offer a wide range of supports and resources to the people of Carrigtwohill and Youghal respectively and I am pleased that this funding will assist them in their community integration work.

“The Communities Integration Fund provides funding for small scale projects that support the integration of migrants in their local communities. Types of projects which are eligible for funding are intercultural festivals and events including food festivals; initiatives to promote migrant participation in sports and address barriers to participation in local sports clubs; local anti-racism actions and school integration projects. Grants range from a minimum of €1,000 up to a maximum allocation of €5,000.”

“Over the past two years, I have visited many of the projects funded by the Communities Integration Fund. These visits have enabled me to witness first-hand the benefits that a modest level of funding can have in bringing migrants together with their local communities. The large volume of applications to the fund is evidence of its success to date and also of the desire for communities to be more inclusive. In addition to social inclusion, these initiatives also create more resilient communities, which are pivotal in fostering a greater sense of community well-being”, concluded Minister Stanton.