The Mayo Intercultural Action (MIA) project of South West Mayo Development Company (SWMDC) welcomes the news of provisional approval of a grant of €265,814 under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). The Diversity Mayo project will run for three years and will provide an effective response to the needs of migrants from outside the EU living in Mayo.

Gerry O'Neill, CEO of South West Mayo Development Company said "SWMDC is delighted with this opportunity to continue and expand our Social Inclusion work with migrant communities in Mayo, including asylum seekers and residents of the Old Convent accommodation centre in Ballyhaunis. The project has important and committed co-funding partners in Mayo County Council, HSE West and TUSLA. We are extremely grateful to our partners in this project. This partnership will help front-line services in Mayo to better understand migrants' issues.

Natalya Pestova, MIA project coordinator said "This is absolutely thrilling, long awaited, news. The Diversity Mayo project proposal was strongly informed by MIA's vision, role and expertise. Working on the ground, MIA is acutely aware of the unmet needs of asylum seekers, refugees and vulnerable migrants. It will now be possible to better respond to these approaches with better resourses.

The AMIF funding will address this gap and will bring new energy and extra capacity to MIA's work with vulnerable migrants. Most importantly, it will enable new communities living in Mayo to develop strong progression pathways in Irish society."