The Government has announced that it is allocating over half a million euro from the dormant accounts fund to six support groups working with vulnerable immigrant families around the State.
Among the projects to receive a share of the €574,989 in funding are those providing pre-employment training programmes and strategies, job-seeking programmes and measures to promote access to employment.
Support groups in Drogheda, Waterford, Mayo, Cork, Kerry and Blanchardstown, Co Dublin, will benefit from the allocation.
According to the Government, the main objective of the funding is to increase the employability of vulnerable immigrant families who have been granted refugee status or who have been granted leave to remain in the State.
Commenting on the allocation, Minister for Justice Michael McDowell said that the integration of refugees and other foreign nationals into Irish society was "an urgent and important issue".
"This funding is a further step in the process of integration and is directed primarily at facilitating access to employment in the short to medium term," Mr McDowell said.
"I have no doubt that this group of people will be a rich resource for the future economic, social and cultural development of this country."
Noel Ahern, Minister of State at the Department of Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs, said that the funding would assist vulnerable immigrant families who were trying to make a new life in Ireland.
"In rebuilding the economic lives of these immigrant and refugee families, this Government is also continuing its work of building communities as our whole society reaps the benefits of economic, social and cultural integration."
Disbursements from the dormant accounts fund target three broad categories of individuals: those affected by economic and social disadvantage; those affected by educational disadvantage; and people with a disability.
Yesterday's announcement brings to almost €12 million the allocations made this year under the economic and social disadvantage category of the fund.
Last March, Mr Ahern ruled out using dormant accounts to help Irish communities living abroad.
Further announcements in relation to the dormant accounts fund are expected in the autumn.