€8,700 awarded to two Mayo community projects

Two Mayo projects have been awarded funding under this year’s Communities Integration Fund, Minister of State, Alan Dillon, has confirmed.

He outlined: “A total of €8,700 has been awarded to two projects in Claremorris and Ballyhaunis through the fund which supports local community-based organisations to play a greater role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees,” said Minister Dillon.

A sum of €5,000 has been awarded to Ballyhaunis Community Council CLG for ‘Exploring History Together’ and €3,700 has been granted to Claremorris Family Resource Centre Ltd for ‘Taste of Home’.

The Mayo projects are part of 113 community projects nationally which were announced by the Department of Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth to receive funding under the Communities Integration Fund 2024.

Through this Fund, a total of €509,791 will be made available to support local community-based organisations across Ireland to play a greater role in welcoming and integrating migrants and refugees.

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.

Since its inception, the Communities Integration Fund has now supported over 930 projects, with grant funding totalling €4.32 million.

Minister Dillon said: “I am delighted that these two groups and projects in Mayo have received this finding.

"Over the past number of years, communities across Mayo and Ireland have played a vital role in supporting those who have come and made their lives here. I am confident this fund will help support these efforts.”