Michael Noonan (Limerick East, Fine Gael)
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Question 115: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the recommendations of the task force on emigrants which will be prioritised for action in 2006; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39191/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The high priority which the Government attaches to the interests of Irish people living abroad is reflected in the establishment of a dedicated unit in my Department, the Irish abroad unit. During 2006 the unit will continue to be active in encouraging progress on all areas identified in the valuable report of the task force on policy regarding emigrants.

Funding for emigrant services has never been higher. In 2005 my Department's funding for supporting and developing services which benefit our community abroad reached the unprecedented amount of €8.273 million. I am delighted to have secured €12 million in funding for emigrant services for 2006, an increase of 45% on 2005. The substantially increased allocation is a clear expression of the strength of the Government's continuing commitment to our communities abroad.

An important priority in the year ahead is to ensure the effective allocation of this increased funding. In doing so, we will continue to work closely with the excellent network of Irish community care agencies engaged in the provision of critical assistance to Irish people abroad, in particular to the more vulnerable members of our community. These agencies are active across the range of areas that the task force report identified as meriting additional support.

The needs of the Irish community in Britain, in particular older people and those at risk of social exclusion, remain a key priority. In 2005 increased funding has allowed us to respond positively to requests from organisations in Britain and to widen the eligibility criteria for support. While the primary emphasis of funding continues to be to support front-line welfare services, I am pleased that additional funding has made it possible to support a number of capital projects, as well as some projects of a social or cultural nature which help to foster a greater sense of community.

This year I have been happy to approve increased financial support to the Federation of Irish Societies in Britain and, for the first time, to the Coalition of Irish Immigration Centres in the US. This is allowing them to develop the assistance that they give to their affiliates at the front line of community care so as to enhance service delivery, learn from best practices elsewhere, leverage other sources of funding and in this way maximise the impact of resources. I am confident that the activities of these organisations will continue to reap great benefits in 2006.

Another area to which I have attached particular priority this year, and which will remain a priority area in 2006, is the welfare of our undocumented community in the US. The legislative debate in the US is entering a critical phase. In the light of the high priority which the Government attaches to this issue, and supported by the valuable all-party resolutions passed recently in both Houses of the Oireachtas and by the very recent establishment in New York of the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, we will continue to actively lobby for effective immigration reform legislation in the US Congress. In this regard, all sides of the House believe that the bill jointly sponsored by Senators Kennedy and McCain would provide an effective and balanced resolution of the difficulties of the undocumented.

Jerry Cowley (Mayo, Independent)
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Question 119: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs, in view of the sacrifice made by emigrants who, through their well documented remittances, kept Ireland afloat in times of severe economic hardship and who in their twilight years need help and support from Irish welfare and advice agencies abroad, the breakdown of the task force recommendations that have been implemented and those which have yet to be implemented; when same will be implemented; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [39253/05]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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The report of the task force on policy regarding emigrants provides us with a valuable framework for action. Its recommendations were far reaching and varied and, in view of their nature, the implementation of some of these will be, by necessity, on a phased basis over a number of years. Considerable progress has already been made, with action underway on over two thirds of the report's recommendations. A great many of the recommendations in the report relate to issues of continuing importance which will require ongoing action from all partners, in Government and the voluntary sector, in Ireland and abroad.

The high priority which the Government attaches to this area of national policy is reflected in the establishment of a dedicated unit in my Department, the Irish abroad unit, to work exclusively on the issues that impact on our community abroad. Officials of the unit are active in encouraging progress on all areas identified by the task force report. In doing so, they maintain close contact with agencies in the statutory and voluntary sectors engaged in emigrant services.

As the Deputy will be aware, funding for emigrant services has never been higher. I am delighted to have secured €12 million in funding for emigrant services for 2006. This significant amount represents an increase on 2005 of 45% and is 12 times greater than the 1997 allocation. It reflects, in the clearest possible way, the strength of the Government's continuing commitment to our communities abroad.

Particular priority will continue to be to support our most vulnerable and marginalised communities abroad, such as our older community in Britain and undocumented Irish people in the United States. The Irish abroad unit and our network of embassies and consulates will work intensively with the front-line community care agencies to ensure that increased funding leads to enhanced services of benefit to our community abroad.