Grants totalling €13 million to promote gender equality and to help the integration of migrants were announced today by Ms. Frances Fitzgerald, T.D., Tánaiste and Minister for Justice and Equality and Mr. David Stanton, T.D., Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with responsibility for Integration, Immigration and Equality.
A total of 43 projects will be delivered in the coming four year period in multiple locations across Ireland by Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs), locally based community groups, and others, who were successful following an open Call for Proposals.
The gender equality projects will support women’s entrepreneurship and participation in the workforce through a range of training and mentoring initiatives.
Examples of the gender equality projects selected for funding include:
· A Dublin-based project to assist women who are lone parents onto pathways to sustainable employment.
· A project in counties Galway and Mayo to provide training and mentoring to women who wish to start their own business.
· A project in counties Cavan and Monaghan to give job skills training and work placement opportunities to women who are outside the workforce.
Announcing the gender equality funding, the Tánaiste said:
“There is still some way to go to achieving gender equality in the workplace. Women continue to have lower overall levels of participation in the workforce, are paid less and have less access to senior positions. Women are also less likely to own or manage their own businesses.
The funding I have announced today will directly support disadvantaged women to access the labour market. It will also help more women to become successful entrepreneurs.”
The migrant integration projects will provide a range of practical supports directly to migrants, including English language classes and workplace training. Anti-racism and cultural diversity initiatives will also receive funding.
Examples of the migrant integration projects selected for funding include:
· A nationwide project to support community integration through local level football leagues.
· A project in Cork to provide information and support services to vulnerable migrants.
· A Dublin-based project to assist long-term residents of Direct Provision Centres to make a successful transition to life in the community.
· A Kilkenny project to provide local work skills training and job placements to migrants who are experiencing barriers to participating in the workforce.
Announcing the migrant integration funding, the Minister for Integration and Equality said:
“Twenty projects will be funded across the country to help support the integration of our new communities, while a further five projects will focus specifically on boosting migrant employability. These grants will bolster the good work being carried out every day by local community organisations and national NGOs in support of migrant integration.”