Brian O'Shea (Waterford, Labour)
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Question 913: To ask the Minister for Community, Rural and Gaeltacht Affairs his proposals to fund voluntary organisations providing frontline services for the Irish community living in Britain who are in very poor marginalised circumstances from the dormant accounts fund; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [1281/06]

Noel Ahern (Dublin North West, Fianna Fail)
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Disbursements from the dormant accounts fund are designed to assist three broad categories of persons; those who are socially or economically disadvantaged, those who are educationally disadvantaged and persons with a disability.

While it is my intention that the focus of dormant accounts funding should be directed towards tackling disadvantage in Ireland, the Government is committed to providing supports for vulnerable Irish communities living abroad. This commitment is clearly demonstrated by the allocation of significant funding from the Exchequer through the Department of Foreign Affairs. In this regard, over €8.25 million was allocated for emigrant services in 2005. Most of this allocation, more than €7 million, was distributed in grants to groups in Britain providing services to the Irish community living there. In 2006, funding for emigrant services will exceed €12 million and it can be anticipated that most of this funding will again be directed at groups in Britain providing services to the Irish community and in particular to support the most vulnerable and marginalised.