Written answers
Tuesday, 12 October 2004
Department of Foreign Affairs
Emigrant Services
9:00 pm
Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 123: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the funding he is providing to organisations dealing with issues relating to Irish people living in the United Kingdom; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24243/04]
Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
Question 126: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if assistance is being given to services under an Irish abroad heading in Brent, London, which is twinned with South Dublin County Council; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [24394/04]
Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
Link to this: Individually | In context
I propose to take Questions Nos. 123 and 126 together.
The DION fund, through which the Government funds services to emigrants in Britain, has more than quadrupled in the past five years. This year Government funding for emigrant support stands overall at €5 million, representing an increase of some two thirds over 2003. Most of this funding goes to organisations in Britain, with 57 different bodies there having already benefited from support this year. Further support will be allocated between now and the end of the year. A summary follows of DION grants to date in 2004 to organisations in Britain.
I share the Deputy's commitment to supporting services for the Irish in Brent. Brent and the surrounding boroughs are home to a significant proportion of London's Irish community. In July, my predecessor approved a grant of €100,000 to the Brent Irish Advisory Service, a voluntary organisation which provides advice, information and support services to Irish people in need. I can assure the Deputy of the Government's strong commitment to supporting organisations which provide front-line assistance to our emigrants in Britain.
| Summary of DION Grants in 2004 | |
| € | |
| Existing Projects | |
| Safe Home Programme Ltd., Mulranny, Co Mayo | 110,000 |
| Aisling 'Return to Ireland' project, Camden | 41,650 |
| Acton Homeless Concern, North London | 56,300 |
| Age Concern Ealing Borough, West London | 43,000 |
| Age Concern Hackney Borough. North East London | 21,800 |
| Birmingham Irish Community Forum Ltd. (2nd tier) | 33,750 |
| Blackfriars Advice Centre, South London | 39,650 |
| Brent Irish Advisory Service (BIAS), North West London | 100,000 |
| Broadway — Day Centre and Night Shelter, London | 32,000 |
| Cairde na nGael — Newham & District Friends of Ireland, London | 51,600 |
| Camden Elderly Irish Network (CEIN), North London | 30,550 |
| CARA Housing Association — Traveller Advice Service, Haringey | 22,600 |
| The Connection at St. Martin's, Central London | 23,700 |
| Coventry Irish Society (formerly ICARG) | 77,700 |
| Cricklewood Homeless Concern, North London (2 projects) | 96,300 |
| Federation of Irish Societies (Community Care) (2nd tier) | 65,900 |
| Finsbury Park Street Drinkers Initiative (FPSDI), North London | 33,000 |
| Gloucester Emergency Accommodation Resource (GEAR) | 13,000 |
| Haringey Irish Cultural & Community Care Centre North London | 82,850 |
| Immigrant Counselling & Psychotherapy (ICAP) (2 projects) | 92,000 |
| Irish Commission for Prisoners Overseas (ICPO) | 110,000 |
| Irish Centre Housing — Job Powerhouse project, North London | 32,600 |
| Irish Community Care Merseyside (2 projects) | 108,850 |
| Irish Community Care Manchester (2 projects) | 98,600 |
| Irish Welfare & Information Centre, Birmingham (2 projects) | 151,350 |
| Irish in Greenwich Project (2 projects), East London | 92,600 |
| Irish Charitable Trust / Irish Support & Advice Service, Hammersmith | 70,000 |
| Irish Travellers Movement (ITM) (2nd tier) | 47,150 |
| Leeds Irish Health and Homes (LIHH) | 83,700 |
| Lewisham Irish Community Centre, South London | 29,700 |
| Leicester Irish Forum | 21,000 |
| London Irish Centre Charity Camden (LICC) (3 projects) | 159,650 |
| London Irish Elders' Forum (LIEF) (2nd tier) | 42,000 |
| London Irish Women's Centre (LIWC) (2 projects) | 87,300 |
| London Gypsy and Traveller Unit (LGTU) | 64,500 |
| Luton Irish Forum | 35,150 |
| The Maya Counselling Centre, Islington, North London | 18,200 |
| New Horizon Youth Centre, Central London | 32,000 |
| NOAH Enterprise, Luton | 56,100 |
| Northampton Irish Support Group | 41,650 |
| The Passage — Day Centre and Night Shelter, Central London | 38,350 |
| Rehab Irish Elders' Resource Centre, Coventry | 54,800 |
| Safe Start Foundation, Cricklewood, North London | 38,550 |
| Sheffield Gypsy and Traveller Support Group | 18,400 |
| The Simon Community, London | 39,750 |
| Southwark Irish Pensioners Project (SIPP), South London | 66,400 |
| Southwark Travellers' Action Group (STAG), South London | 58,750 |
| South London Irish Welfare Society, Wimbledon | 69,050 |
| St. Mungo's Housing Association, London | 28,750 |
| Kilburn Irish Pensioners Club, North London | 3,000 |
| Tara Irish Pensioners Club, North London | 3,000 |
| New Projects | |
| Federation of Irish Societies (Capacity Building project) | 270,000 |
| Arlington Action Group, Camden, North London | 30,350 |
| Federated Irish Association Nottingham & Notts (FIANN) | 36,400 |
| Sheffield Irish People's Support & Development Group | 44,400 |
| Sandwell Irish Society, West Midlands | 35,300 |
| The Emerald Circle, Harrow, North West London | 3,000 |
| GAA London Schools Board education project | 32,000 |
| Total Grants approved to date | 3,319,700 |
No comments