Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour)

I thank Deputy Ó Fearghaíl for his response and for his question. The round of grant allocations for 2012 is about to be opened. Those who have benefited from allocations in the past and any new organisations that have emerged since then will be eligible to apply. Our objective is to maintain our commitment to the provision of frontline support services to Irish emigrants. As the Deputy said, much of that has gone to emigrants in Britain, many of whom emigrated in the 1950s and 1960s and are now in difficult circumstances and in advanced years. We are anxious to continue support for them.

We must also consider the needs of the new Irish emigrants. I have met support organisations in the United States and heard of their difficulties and challenges. In Canada, for example, a new Irish support centre will be opened soon. I am conscious of the need to support our emigrants in Canada and Australia.

We are working through organisations such as the GAA, which is doing a huge amount of work with new Irish emigrants. It is a point of contact. We have concentrated on the capital side in helping the GAA to develop facilities, which are available for wider community use. We support the GAA in maintaining a network of contacts, particularly with new Irish emigrants.

See this speech in context