€284,000 for Kilkenny groups to support local International Protection applicants

Community organisations in Kilkenny are to benefit from grants of more than €284,000 under the International Protection Integration Fund 2023.

The funding will allow community groups to play a greater role in supporting the integration of International Protection applicants at local and national level.

Among the projects in Kilkenny to receive funding are the One Million Stars Community Arts Project, the Twilight Group and Kilkenny Leader’s employability and training project for international protection applicants.

Kilkenny is set to benefit from a share of €284,813, shared across local groups and national organisations with a local operation.

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The two local groups included are the St. Canices Community Action (SIPA) Support for International Protection Applicants group, which has been granted €16,400, and County Kilkenny LEADER Partnership CLG which has been granted €20,000 for its IPA Employability and Training work.

A number of groups that work across several counties, including Kilkenny, have also been beneficiaries of the grants. This includes: 

• Amber Womens Refuge CLG who receive €20,000 for the One Million Stars Ireland Community Arts Project.
• The Twilight Community Group has been allocated €17,500 for a Health & Overall Wellness (HOW) project.
• A grant of €20,000 has been awarded to the Africa Solidarity Centre CLG for facilitating International Protection Applicants' understanding of the asylum process through the provision of legal information and host activities supporting their integration.
• The ‘Active Minds’ integration programme for improved mental health and wellbeing, run by Waterford Integration Services, has been given a grant of €15,735.

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National organisations working in Kilkenny have been granted more than €175,000. Part of that will be spent on their work in the local area. These include: AdVic, Doras, the Irish Refugee Council, LGBT Ireland, MyMind CLG, the National Youth Council of Ireland, Outhouse Ltd, Places of Sanctuary Ireland and Third Age (Fáilte Isteach).

The Minister of State for Community Development, Integration and Charities, Joe O’Brien, announced the projects set to receive funding support under the International Protection Integration Fund 2023. 

Now in its second year, the fund supports 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.

“The International Protection Integration Fund is a significant tool to assist civil society organisations with their invaluable work on helping to integrate people who come to Ireland seeking International Protection. The importance of this work with people who are at a particularly vulnerable time in their lives is crucial and every day we see the positive impact that civil society organisations make in helping to foster diverse and vibrant communities whilst supporting individuals. I am delighted to be able to award funding today to 70 different projects across Ireland for the development of such vital work,’’ Minister O’Brien said.

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Successful applicants were asked to demonstrate how their proposed project will build links between International Protection applicants and their host communities, encouraging meaningful integration that benefits the community as a whole.

Projects supporting mental health initiatives, solidarity through sport and inclusion of people from the LGBTI+ community in the International Protection system  were given special priority.