Funding - EU - EIF Annual Programme 2007

MEMBER STATE:	Ireland
FUND:	European Fund for the Integration of Third country Nationals
RESPONSIBLE AUTHORITY:	Office of the Minister for Integration
YEAR COVERED:	2007

1. GENERAL RULES FOR SELECTION OF PROJECTS TO BE FINANCED UNDER THE PROGRAMME

POBAL, as delegated authority, will publish a Call for Proposals in the National Media seeking applications for funding from the voluntary/Non Governmental Organisations and Area based Partnerships.

Assessment of applications will be based, inter alia, upon the following criteria:

Evidence of need

a	The evidence of the need for the initiative will need to be clearly and substantively demonstrated by the applicant (through for example evidence from the Central Statistics Office or local social welfare office);

a	The extent to which the proposal will improve services to and outcomes for third country nationals and promote equality and participation;

a	The level to which third country nationals themselves and their representative organisations, statutory organisations and other relevant bodies are involved in all aspects of the proposal.

Strength of the proposal:

a	The extent to which the proposal reflects the purpose and principles of the Fund;

a	The quality of the strategic approach and its potential effectiveness and impact;

a	The extent to which the proposal will add value to existing services provided by public or other bodies;

a	Evidence that the proposal is clear and includes attainable and measurable targets and outcomes, realistic costings and timescales.

Value for money and sustainability

a	The overall cost-effectiveness of the proposal inter alia in view of the number of persons concerned by the project proposal and the extent to which it represents value for money;

a	The extent to which the applicant organisations utilise existing resources for the proposed project;

a	The degree to which the proposed strategy will lead to the enhancement of existing projects, services and networks;

a	The sustainability of the proposal;

a	The strategy for mainstreaming and the capacity demonstrated in this regard;

a	Strategies for the extraction and dissemination of learning from practice.

Capacity of the applicant:

a	The experience and track record of the lead applicant organisation in delivering integration strategies of the type proposed;

a	The overall capacity of the lead organisation, including evidence of financial controls and ability to manage funding at the level sought.

Coordination, collaboration with other organisations/initiatives:

a	The extent to which the project is compatible with existing national policies;

a	The level of integration/linkage of the project with other compatible actions or programmes;

a	Avoidance of duplication of effort between proposals, either in the geographical area or in relation to the type of service to be provided;

a	The level of integration/linkage and partnership of the organization’s work programme with other relevant actions, programmes and bodies.

2. CHANGES IN THE MANAGEMENT AND CONTROL SYSTEMS (if appropriate)

Not applicable. There have no modifications to the system as set out in the description recently forwarded to the European Commission.

3. ACTIONS TO BE SUPPORTED BY THE PROGRAMME UNDER THE PRIORITIES CHOSEN

3.1. Actions implementing priority 1

It is proposed to implement only Priority 1 this year. It was decided to focus on four types of action



Action 1 Introductory Programmes

This will consist of programmes to enable newly arrived third-country nationals to acquire basic knowledge about Irish society’s history, institutions, socio-economic features, cultural life, norms and values.

Expected grant recipients are non-governmental organisations (NGOs).

Quantified results and indicators: number of participants; number of volunteers assisting them; amount of time spent on the programme by participants.



Action 2 Intercultural Dialogue

This will consist of projects to facilitate intercultural dialogue between Irish people and third-country nationals as well as cultural awareness training to schools, community groups etc.

Expected grant recipients are NGO’s.

Quantified results and indicators: number of participants and sessions facilitated; course material produced.



Action 3 Civic Participation

This will consist of projects to promote the participation of third-country nationals in civil society through training and forums for this purpose.

Expected grant recipients are NGOs.

Quantified results and indicators: number of participants; level of training attained; course material designed; number of forums organised.



Action 4 Building the capacity of support groups

This will consist of projects to strengthen the capacity of support groups in assisting third-country nationals through training and the production of manuals etc. which will facilitate their work.

Expected grant recipients are NGO’s.

Quantified results and indicators: number of organisations assisted; materials produced.


3.2 Expected Grant Recipients

See above.

3.3 Where appropriate, justification regarding project(s) implemented directly by the responsible authority acting as an executing body

Not applicable.

3.4 Expected quantified results and indicators to be used

See above.

3.5 Visibility of EC funding

The EU logo will be incorporated in relevant documents such as Advertisements, guidelines and application forms. Appropriate provisions with regard to the visibility of the EU logo will be included in the Grant agreements.

3.6 Complementarity with similar actions financed by other EC instruments, if appropriate

The Office of the Minister for Integration is the responsible authority for the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country nationals and the European Refugee Fund and the same cadre of staff will be involved in the administration of both funds. Responsibility for the administration of the integration aspect of the European Social Fund also belongs to OMI. These steps alone will assist in ensuring that the monies available to Ireland under the European Fund for the Integration of Third Country Nationals, the European Refugee Fund and the European Social Fund are used appropriately in compliance with Community instruments and in accordance with national integration policies. Pobal is a not-for-profit company with charitable status that manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU. Pobal manages programmes on behalf of the Irish Government and the EU and will also be in a position to ensure complementarity with other programmes

When presenting the actions under points 3.1 to etc, where relevant, provide a breakdown according to the description of categories of actions in the basic act

4. TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE

4.1 Purpose of the technical assistance

In accordance with the provisions of the Basic Act technical assistance will be used to finance preparatory actions, management, monitoring, evaluation, information and control and other measures relating to the administration of the fund. Pobal will manage and maintain the European Integration Fund on behalf of OMI and will report to us on a regular basis. This management responsibility of Pobal will involve six main dimensions. Briefly these are as follows:

a	The appraisal and selection process and the decision on the grant to successful applicants

a	Financial management, control and audit separate from the functions of the certifying and audit authorities

a	Support for the selected projects

a	Monitoring the work of beneficiaries and learning lessons from good practice

a	Information dissemination about the fund

a	Regular liaison with and reporting to the Department of Justice, Equality & Law Reform.

4.2 Expected quantified results

The efficient and effective administration of the fund.

4.3 Visibility of EC funding

The EU logo will be incorporated in relevant documents such as Advertisements, guidelines and application forms. Appropriate provisions with regard to the visibility of the EU logo will be included in the Grant agreements.

5. DRAFT FINANCING PLAN

Annual programme concerned: […]2007
European fund for the integration of third Country Nationals
(all figures in euro)	Ref. priority	Ref. specific priority (1)	Community Contribution (a)	Public Allocation (b)	Private Allocation (c)	TOTAL (d=a+b+c)	%EC (e=a/d)	Share of total (f=d/total d)
Action 1: […]	1		460,000		460,000	920,000	50%	57.99%
Action 2 […]	1		50,000		50,000	100,000	50%	6.30%
Action 3: […]	1		158,000		158,000	316,000	50%	19.92%
Action 4: […]	1		80,929		80,929	161,858	50%	10.20%
Action 5: […]						00		0.00%
Action…:[…]						0		0.00%
Action N:[…]								0.00%
Technical Assistance			88,629			88,629	100.00%	5.59%
Other operations (2)
TOTAL			837,558	0	748,929	1,586,487	52.79%	100.00%
(1) if appropriate
(2) if appropriate

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