Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 165: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he will report on Irish abroad assistance being targeted on Brent in London which is twinned with South Dublin County Council based in Tallaght; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [5133/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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I share the Deputy's interest in Brent, which is home to a significant proportion of London's Irish community. During my visit to London in December 2004 I was pleased to include Brent in my itinerary and to meet with the staff and clients of the Cricklewood Homeless Concern.

The Government is committed to supporting organisations in Britain that assist those members of our community in London who may find themselves in marginalised circumstances. In 2004 the Government provided a grant of €215,560 to the Cricklewood Homeless Concern, as well as another grant of €120,000 to the Brent Irish Advisory Service. Government support for the provision of services to our emigrants in Britain continues to grow strongly. In 2004 grants amounting to €4.3 million were made from the Díon Fund, which represented an increase of two-thirds on 2003. Further substantial increases in funding for emigrant services in 2005 have been secured. This year the Díon Fund has been allocated an unprecedented amount of €7 million, a figure that is nine times greater than was allocated in 1997. We will continue to support the organisations in the voluntary sector engaged in critical work that benefits our vulnerable community in Brent and elsewhere in Britain.