Almost €200k is awarded to partnership for integration project

OVER €198,000 has been awarded to the Tallaght-based South Dublin County Partnership to be used over the next three years to fund a migrant integration project.

The funding, which was announced last week, is being provided by the Department of Integration under the National Integration Fund.

The South Dublin County Partnership will receive €198,974 for its migrant integration project, which helps migrants to secure work, pursue education and overcome barriers to integration.

Larry O’Neill, CEO of the South Dublin County Partnership, told The Echo: “The project is following on from a previous iteration we’ve been doing for the last six years.

“It’s going to identify employment opportunities and courses, and it will identify what prevents them from taking these up – it could be language, cultural differences, or accommodation issues.

“We’re looking to see what’s holding them back, and then creating a pathway for them to overcome those challenges.”

The funding will enable the service to work more closely with a number of the project’s clients, to assist them more intensely or to signpost them to other services that could help.

“This project will deal with people who already have permission to stay,” added Mr O’Neill.

“It’s for people who already have that, and it helps them to settle in and overcome the cultural differences.

“I hope the project will help to create those pathways that can change somebody’s life, let them realise their potential and contribute to this country.”

The South Dublin Volunteer Centre also received funding of €50,000 from the National Integration Fund for its Citywest Transit Hub Volunteer Engagement Programme.