Paul Connaughton Snr (Galway East, Fine Gael)
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Question 240: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs his plans to help undocumented Irish citizens now trapped in the USA; the number of Irish persons in this situation; if his attention has been drawn to the hardship, inconvenience and worry this problem has caused to the persons concerned and to their families; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [3107/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Immigration controls and procedures are a highly sensitive issue in the United States, particularly since the tragic events of 11 September 2001. We can anticipate a vigorous debate in the US Congress on any measures proposed to regularise the circumstances of undocumented people.

The number of Irish people who may be resident in the United States without the appropriate authorisation is difficult to estimate. While the US authorities have estimated that the number may have declined to 3,000 in the year 2000, many of the organisations working on the ground with our emigrants would regard this figure as a very low estimate.

The Deputy can be assured that the circumstances of undocumented Irish people in the US are raised on an ongoing basis in our bilateral contacts with US political leaders. I welcome recent comments by President Bush that immigration reform will be a high priority during his second term in office. I believe that such comments reflect an awareness of the importance of addressing the situation of the undocumented in the US in a constructive and sympathetic way. All proposals for reform will, of course, have to be considered in detail by the US Congress. I will be monitoring closely developments and will raise this issue in my contacts with figures in the US Administration and Legislature.

I am acutely aware of concerns regarding the circumstances of some Irish emigrants living in the United States and of the stress which their undocumented status causes to them and to their families. The information and advice which the Irish immigration centres in the US make available to our community there is of particular relevance at this complex time of change. They provide much needed frontline services to meet a wide range of needs. In 2004, funding to these organisations from my Department was €535,000, representing an increase of 83% on the previous year. I was delighted to secure a very substantial increase in funding for emigrant services in 2005, and this will enable us to support them further in their invaluable work.

The Deputy can be assured that through the ongoing efforts of our embassy and my own contacts and those of my Cabinet colleagues with political leaders in the US, we will continue to encourage and support all measures that benefit Irish citizens in the US.