Joe O'Brien - Green Party Joe O'Brien - Green Party

Minister of State Joe O’Brien Encourages Final Community Groups to Apply for the Communities Integration Fund 2023

15th February, 2023

Minister of State Joe O’Brien Encourages Final Community Groups to Apply for the Communities Integration Fund 2023

  • €500,000 will be made available to local community-based projects nationwide to support the integration of migrants.
  • Grants of up to €5,000 will be allocated to successful organisations to support integration initiatives.

Minister of State for Integration, Joe O’Brien, has today (Wednesday, 15th February) encouraged community groups in Fingal to make applications to the Communities Integration Fund 2023.

Now in its seventh year, the Communities Integration Fund celebrates the rich cultural diversity within local communities and enables local community-based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in supporting the integration of migrants.  Successful organisations stand to receive grant funding of €1,000 – €5,000 to support local integration initiatives.

Minister of State O’Brien said:

“I am delighted to announce the launch of the Communities Integration Fund 2023. We want to ensure that anyone who has made their home here is supported to actively participate in Irish society, while still being able to cherish their own cultural identity. By supporting initiatives that promote inclusivity, diversity, and culture, we can create stronger, more connected communities.

Fingal is a diverse and vibrant part of the country, and I know that there are many organisations in our area who are doing hugely valuable work on community integration. I really want to encourage our local community organisations to think about how the Integration Fund can support their work, and to make an application before the deadline.”

How to apply:

Applicants can access a detailed guidance document and complete an online application form:  https://ec.europa.eu/eusurvey/runner/CommunityIntegrationFundApp2023.

The closing date for receipt of applications is 12 pm on Wednesday 15th March 2023.

Further Information: 

The Migrant Integration Strategy sets out the Government’s commitment to the promotion of migrant integration as a key part of Ireland’s renewal and as an underpinning principle of Irish society. The Strategy provides a framework for a range of actions to support migrants to participate fully in Irish life.

The Communities Integration Fund arises from Action 51 of the Migrant Integration Strategy, which calls for funding to be made available to local communities throughout Ireland to promote the integration of migrants and refugees. Since its inception in 2017, the Communities Integration Fund has supported over 710 projects with grant funding totalling €3.32m.

Purpose of projects/activities

This call is open to local community based groups and centres around 10 key themes to support migrant integration:

  • Intercultural Awareness;
  • Combating Racism and Xenophobia;
  • Sport & Community Games;
  • Arts;
  • Food/Cuisine;
  • Community Events;
  • Capacity Building;
  • Employment;
  • School Aged Projects;
  • Migrant Women.

As this Fund is intended to support the integration of migrant and host communities, all applications must demonstrate the ability to involve both migrant and host communities in the activities proposed. The maximum grant amount that can be applied for is €5,000 and the minimum grant is €1,000.