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	Community groups around the country are being encouraged to make a greater effort to welcome migrants and refugees, with the launch of a new initiative to boost integration.</p>
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	The Migration Integration Strategy will give funding of up to &euro;5,000 to local organisations that work with families and individuals that have made Ireland their home.</p>
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	As well as supporting such groups, the strategy sets a number of targets for State agencies over the next four years.</p>
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	These include the provision of information in different languages, interpretation facilities and enhanced processes to identify and report racist behaviour.</p>
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	It is envisaged that by 2020 at least 1% of staff in the civil service will come from the European Economic Area).</p>
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	The Government says this will lead to a more representative civil service but there are no plans to remove a recruitment bar on non-EEA nationals at this time.</p>
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	The Communities Integration Fund of &euro;500,000 will be open to sports organisations and voluntary groups to allow them to promote greater migrant integration.</p>
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	Meanwhile, the first group of asylum seekers who are to be accommodated in Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon are arriving on a flight to Ireland this evening. Another group will arrive next week.</p>
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	The group will initially stay in Balseskin Reception Centre which has a HSE medical centre on site.</p>
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	(Published by RTE.ie on the 7th February 2017)</p>
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	<a href="https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0207/850863-diversity-integration-groups/">https://www.rte.ie/news/2017/0207/850863-diversity-integration-groups/</a></p>
