Funding for five Louth organisations for local integration projects

Five Louth based organisations are set to benefit from funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2024, it was announced today by Minister for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth, Roderic O’Gorman.

The funding is being be made available to support local community-based organisations to play a greater role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees. Each organisation in Louth is being allocated €5,000.

The organisations in Louth and the projects they are undertaking are as follows:

• An Táin Arts Centre - Why are you here?
• Autism Support Louth & Meath - Autism Support Ukrainian Translation Project
• Development Perspectives - Momentum
• Oriel Traditional Orchestra - Music as Pathway to Integration
• Street Feast CLG - Street Feast Together

The Communities Integration Fund has been in place since 2017 and 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. 

Announcing the funding today, Minister O’Gorman said: “I am delighted to announce today that 113 local migrant integration projects will be funded under the Communities Integration Fund. Over the last few years, communities across Ireland have played a vital role in supporting those who have come and made their lives here. I’m confident that this fund will help support those efforts”.

Welcoming news of the funding, Louth TD Fergus O'Dowd said that, "County Louth has played a very significant role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees and I look forward to seeing the successful projects progress."

The Communities Integration Fund 2024 open call for proposals ran from 8th April to 8th May 2024. Just over €500,000 has been made available in 2024 to support local projects through grant funding of €1,000 - €5,000 per successful project.

As in previous years, calls for proposals were grouped under ten themes aiming to promote inclusion and diversity. The themes are : Intercultural Awareness; Combating Racism and Xenophobia; Sport & Community Games; Arts; Food/Cuisine; Community Events; Capacity Building; Employment; School-Aged Projects; Migrant Women.