Municipalities to receive €64 million to boost Roma integration

Municipalities to receive €64 million to boost Roma integration

The Interior Ministry is planning to help municipalities that are seeking to integrate local Roma communities, and will mediate €64 million to address problems related to their low standard of living, TASR learnt on Monday from Marta Fabianová of the ministry's press department, speaking on behalf of Interior Minister Robert Kaliňák. "The funding will also be used to do away with the segregation of Roma pupils in education and the pre-school preparation of Roma children will be improved. The assistance for municipalities will also focus on improving coexistence with the majority population through fieldwork and on enhancing the quality of health care, housing and the availability of jobs", said the minister. More funding on top of the €64 million is likely to be allocated at a later stage. The projects seeking to improve the qualifications of the Roma and providing inclusive education are to be funded through the Human Resources Operational Programme. The pre-school preparation is designed to prevent the unjustified enrolment of Roma children in 'special' schools. In addition, a national programme called Healthy Communities, prepared by the Health Ministry, will promote health prevention and education in this respect in more than 250 places.


Gavin Shoebridge, Photo: TASR

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