Caoimhghín Ó Caoláin (Cavan-Monaghan, Sinn Fein)
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Question 277: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the sums committed and those transferred directly or drawn down in each of the years 2004, 2005 and to date in 2006 and projected to year end for emigrant support projects in Britain; the location of each recipient group and their stated programme of work; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [23533/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Supporting the Irish community in Britain, in particular the more vulnerable members of our community there, is a key priority for the Government. In view of this, most of the Government's emigrant services funding is directed to organisations in Britain that are engaged in a wide range of activities of benefit to our community there.

In 2004, the initial allocation to groups in Britain was €3.57 million. However, during that year additional resources were secured for emigrant services and the final amount distributed to groups in Britain reached €4.33 million. Details of the grants approved and paid out in that year are set out in the table.

In 2005, a further substantial increase in funding for emigrant services was secured. I was happy to approve grants to groups in Britain totalling €7.06 million, an increase of 63% on the previous year. Details of these grant payments are also set out. While the primary area of funding was to support frontline welfare services, additional funding made it possible to also support a number of projects which assist our community in Britain in their wish to maintain and to develop Irish community networks.

This year, €12 million is available for emigrant services worldwide. This figure represents an increase of 45% on 2005 and is twelve-times greater than the 1997 allocation. I expect that some 80% of this will be disbursed in grants to groups in Britain during the course of the year. Grant applications are currently under consideration and I look forward to making an announcement shortly.