By Chinedu Onyejelem

Several projects have already been awarded grants under national funding to promote Roma inclusion between now and 2020.

The Department of Justice recently announced a funding of €210,000 for six organisations nationwide — up to €50,000 each — for activities to support the inclusion of Roma within Irish society. 

This funding will be available to the successful groups annually for this and the next two years.

The grants follow the launch of Roma In Ireland – a National Needs Assessment in January this year.

“The Roma Needs Assessment identifies a range of steps that need to be taken across a number of areas to achieve outcomes for Roma that are equal to those of the general population,” Justice said in a statement.

Twenty applications were received and assessed by Justice’s Equality Division against specified criteria. On that basis, six projects were selected for funding totalling €210,000.

“I firmly believe that actions at local level are key to ensuring that the Roma community are included, can contribute to and play a full role in Irish society,” said David Stanton, Minister of State at the Department of Justice and Equality with special responsibility for equality, immigration and integration.

“I am very pleased that we are able to support these projects and I look forward to seeing positive outcomes,” he added.

The new grants build on previous funding of €200,000 made available in 2017 for small-scale, community-based projects to promote inclusion of the Roma community in Ireland.

Organisations receiving funds under the new programme include the Clare Local Development Company, which will provide English language and literacy classes, cultural workshops, and community education programmes; Donegal Travellers Project, which will recruit a dedicated community development worker to work with the Roma community in Co Donegal; and the Free Legal Advice Centres, which will provide free legal advice and advocacy clinics for the Roma community nationwide.

Others are the Ferns Diocesan Youth Services, providing for a dedicated community development worker to work with the Roma community in Co Wexford; Pavee Point Traveller and Roma Centre, which will recruit Roma project workers in the Dublin area to assist access to services and supports; and Daughters of Charity Community Services, which receives funding to support the Roma community in Dublin 7 by establishing a parent-toddler group for Roma parents.