Charlie O'Connor (Dublin South West, Fianna Fail)
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Question 908: To ask the Minister for Foreign Affairs the progress on initiatives in respect of the Irish abroad; if he will detail contacts in the matter; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [29823/06]

Dermot Ahern (Louth, Fianna Fail)
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Maintaining and strengthening links with Irish communities throughout the world is a key priority of my Department. Officials in our diplomatic missions and in the Irish Abroad Unit are very active in this regard and work closely with Irish community organisations across a wide range of issues.

The Government's firm commitment to enhance support for our communities abroad is reflected in the very substantial level of funding now available for emigrant services. In 2006, the unprecedented amount of €12 million has been secured for this purpose. This figure follows on other large increases in recent years, so that funding is now twelve-times the sum that was available when this Government came to office in 1997.

So far this year, I have been happy to announce grants exceeding €9 million. Most of this funding is being distributed to Irish community organisations in Britain. In July, I announced grants of €8 million to over 140 organisations throughout Britain that are engaged in a wide range of activities of benefit to our community there.

While the needs of the vulnerable members of our community in Britain remain a particular area of concern, I am pleased that increased funding has enabled us to support a much wider range of initiatives than was possible in the past. Government funding is now supporting a number of capital projects, as well as initiatives that help to sustain Irish community networks.

The interests of the Irish in the United States remain an important priority for the Government. The circumstances of the undocumented Irish, in particular, continue to concern us. In all of our dealings with key figures in the US Administration and Legislature, we emphasise our strong support for measures that would enable the undocumented Irish to regularise their status and have open to them a path to permanent residence. The Government is working very closely with Irish community organisations that assist the Irish in the United States. We are happy to support them in their important work and I have approved funding to them of over €1 million this year.

While in New York this week, I met with representatives of a number of these organisations, including the Irish Lobby for Immigration Reform, an organisation that is proving most effective in representing the views of the undocumented Irish, as well as with representatives of the Irish welfare and advisory organisations that assist our community there.

While most funding is directed to organisations in Britain and the United States, a number of organisations in Ireland that are engaged in activities of benefit to Irish people abroad have received financial support. This year I have also approved funding for the first time to a number of Irish community organisations in Argentina. I look forward to announcing further grants later in the year to Irish community groups in Australia, Canada and elsewhere.

Another positive development this year has been the decision of the Government to widen the eligibility criteria of the Centenarian Award scheme such that all Irish citizens born in the island of Ireland who have reached 100 years of age, wherever they may reside, are now eligible to apply for the Bounty. Since the Government's decision, I am pleased to note that over one hundred centenarians resident outside of the State have received the Award from the President.