Eighteen organisations involved with the integration of refugees and asylum-seekers here are to receive between €3,400 and €150,000 under the European Refugee Fund.
Announcing the €917,000 allocation yesterday, the Minister for Justice, Equality and Law Reform, Mr McDowell, acknowledged the important role these organisations played in assisting asylum-seekers to settle into both rural and urban communities.
The Irish Refugee Council, one of the main beneficiaries, received €91,000. "We are delighted," said the chief executive, Mr Peter O'Mahony.
The money would be used partly to fund the development of the Refugee Council's drop-in centre in Ennis, Co Clare.
Mr O'Mahony said it was European money and "not funding from the Irish Government" and "is one of the only sources of funding available to many of the named organisations".
Mr McDowell welcomed the number of women-based groups among the beneficiaries, including the Longford Women's Centre, which received €36,000.
This will be used to employ a support worker to deal specifically with women and their families seeking asylum in the rural community.
"We welcome the announcement, which will help us to deal with a huge range of issues in the area," said Ms Tess Murphy, spokeswoman for the group.
It is the second year that the Tallaght Intercultural Action group in Dublin has received a grant of approximately €40,000.
It was welcomed by project worker Ms Lara Gallagher, who said it would be used to introduce an intercultural childcare service for African and Traveller women.
Proposals were received through advertisements in the national press and assessed by a selection committee established by the Reception and Integration Agency.
This body is responsible for administering the fund in Ireland.
The agency is expected to issue another call for the submission of proposals from interested organisations and groups before the end of the year for allocating the 2003 budget.
The European Refugee Fund was established in September 2000 by the Council of the European Union.
Its purpose is to support and encourage efforts made by member-states in receiving asylum-seekers, integrating refugees and voluntary repatriation projects.